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A SCARAB BRACELET OF MYSTIC GEMS 


MYSTIC GEMS 


HARRIET KEITH FOBES 


“There is upon Life’s Hand a Magic Ring, 
The Ring of Faith-in-Good, Life’s gold of gold; 
Remove it not, lest all Life’s charm take wing.” 


Aare 


BOSTON 
RICHARD G. BADGER, PUBLISHER 
THE GORHAM PRESS 


COPYRIGHT, 1924, sy RicHarp G. BADGER 


All Rights Reserved 


PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 


THE GORHAM PREss, Boston, U. S. A. 


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TO MY MOTHER 
ELIZABETH CUSHING FOBES 
WHOSE VISION WAS OF 
“LOVE AND USE TO THE NEIGHBOR” 


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 


This little book, devoted to the history of twelve 
wonderful stones, was brought into being by sug- 
gestions from a group of National Arts Club friends, 
to whom my grateful thanks are due—Mrs. Anne B. 
Leonard, Dr. George F. Kunz, and the late Spencer 
Trask, and Emerson McMillan. 

The frontispiece is from a painting by Theodora 
Larsh, and the other illustrations from photographs 
by Jessie Tarbox Beals. 

My acknowledgments are due to every one who 
ever wrote a line on the subject. Every such book is 
like the center of a spider web with its radiating 
threads. 


153 Carnegie Hall, 
New York, N. Y. 


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PREFACE 


Running through all the ages there is the story of 
the sentiments attributed to the collection of the 
twelve Birthstones, one for every month of the cal- 
endar year, the names of which have often changed, 
but whose colors are always true. 

It is believed that the designation ‘of these twelve 
stones was brought into vogue in Europe in the 
fifteenth century by a group of astrologers from 
Arabia. Not until the eighteenth century in Poland 
did the custom of wearing the stones by individuals, 
as birthstones, originate. 

There is no doubt that this group of stones was 
intimately related to the twelve stones in the breast- 
plate worn by the High Priest Aaron, as given in the 
seventeenth chapter of the Book of Exodus. Each 
stone represented one of the twelve tribes of the 
Children of Israel, the name being engraved on the 
stone. In Egypt, about 4000 B. C., another high priest 
wore a breastplate of twelve small stone balls, or 
crosses. Our knowledge of this significant ornament 
is from a temple relief, and would indicate a rela- 
tionship to Aaron’s breastplate. 

In the time of Moses, these stones must have been 
familiar to the Egyptians of the thirteenth and four- 
teenth centuries, B. C., but not those in the breast- 


Preface 


plate of 70 A. D., which was taken to Rome by Titus 
after the capture of Jerusalem. 

It is thought that the jewels of the Temple at Jeru- 
salem at that time may yet be found buried in one 
of the unknown treasure chambers in the old capital 
of Persia. 

Josephus, who wrote in the first century A. D., and 
St. Jerome, writing in the fifth century A. D., both 
mention the special stone dedicated to each month, 
and distinctly proclaim their connection with the 
jewels in Aaron’s breastplate. In addition, it may 
also be said that these twelve stones bear a distinct 
relation to the twelve signs of the Zodiac. 

The twelve foundation stones of the Holy City, as 
written in the Book of Revelations, and the order in 
which they are given, were used to determine the 
succession of the natal stones for the months of the 
year. 

The theme of innumerable legends, stories, and 
fables is that these twelve birthstones have come to 
be recognized as having an extraordinary signifi- 
cance in their relation to the twelve months of the 
year. 


CONTENTS 


Chapter 


The Garnet for January 


The Amethyst for February . 


The Bloodstone for March 
The Diamond for April 
The Emerald for May . 
The Agate for June 

The Ruby for July . 


The Carnelian for August . 


The Sapphire for September . 


The Opal for October . 
The Topaz for November . 


The Turquoise for December 


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ILLUSTRATIONS 


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MYSTIC GEMS 


CHAPTER I 
THE GARNET FOR JANUARY 


No gem save garnets should be worn 
By her who in this month is born. 
They will insure her constancy 

True friendship and fidelity. 


The garnet is the birthstone for January (the two- 
faced Janus, the god of the beginning of all things), 
and is assigned to Aquarius, the water-bearer, the 
Zodiacal sign for that month. It is the emblem of 
faith, truth, and grace, denoting constancy and. fi- 
delity. Its red color symbolizes fire and stimulus, 
and it also stands for Mars, the god of war. It has 
often been likened in ancient tales to a glowing coal. 

In the old books it was allotted to “Tuisco,” 
Tuesday :— 


If Tuisco assists 

And at birth keeps apace 
The bairn will be born 
With a soul full of grace. 


In the Book of Seals is given “a garnet with the 
image of a lion engraved thereon to protect and pre- 


15 


Mystic Gems 


serve the honors and health of the wearer.” In the 
old Dream Books we find that to dream of garnets 
meant “the accumulation of riches.” “It further- 
more brings sleep to the sleepless, drives away the 
plague and all evil spirits, and attracts to its posses- 
sor riches, glory, honor and great wisdom, and, to 
crown all, constancy with fidelity to all obligations.” 
Legends say that the house which lodged a garnet 
was protected from lightning strokes. What could 
be more desirable than to be born in the month of 
January and to be the rightful owner of a stone 
which assures these gifts? 

The garnet is the stone of cheer, exhilarating the 
spirit and dissipating sadness and gloom. It warns 
its owner of misfortune by losing its color and 
splendor. 

This is the most ancient of stones, according to the 
testimony of early writings, and it was originally 
called both “ruby” and “carbuncle,” as well as 
garnet. The term “carbuncle” is an error and prob- 
ably originated in Rome where any fiery red stone 
was called a “ Carbunculus,” so derived from “ Car- 
bo ”—coal. Rightly used, a carbuncle may be any 
stone cut “en cabochon,” and is not one particular 
stone by that name. Amethyst carbuncles are very 
common. Stones are rounded, not faceted, when cut 


16 


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Old Indian garnet, with pendant of “cinnamon” garnet—Hungarian 
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“en cabochon.” Often a single stone is cut in both 
styles, the top rounded, and the bottom faceted for 
greater effect of color. It requires a larger stone to 
be cut into a carbuncle since it has greater depth of 
color and, therefore, enhances its value. 

The name “garnet” is derived from the Latin 
“ Granatus,” meaning “a grain,” which it resembles 
in the formation of its crystals, many hundreds of 
various sizes having been found in one pocket, a 
glowing mass of color. Another name given to this 
stone is Almandite. 

The. Mohammedan Koran affirms that the light of 
the fourth Heaven is given by carbuncles, or garnets, 
and that the red glow is all pervading. From the Bi- 
ble we learn that the first stone in the Ephod of the 
High Priest, or the Breastplate worn by him, was 
a garnet, and was given to Reuben. The blood-red 
color of the garnet suggests its use as a symbol of the 
Divine Sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. 

There are old tales of the value of the garnet when 
used medicinally. The stones were pounded to pow- 
der for doses and were applied to the person as 
poultices. It was a common belief, held by the 
ancient peoples, that the garnet was an antidote for 
poison, preserving the health of the wearer, and pre- 
venting any tendency to over-indulgence or luxuri- 


17 


Mystic Gems 


ous living. It was gravely recommended as a heart 
stimulant and was so powerful in its action that all 
were warned against displays of passion, fearing 
apoplexy would result. Though Mars is the war 
planet, and the garnet belongs to Mars, the idea of 
war is not meant when the curative powers of the 
stone are mentioned. 

In an old Bohemian manuscript of 1391 a list of 
precious stones, fifty in number, are noted for their 
medicinal use. Garnets and other red stones were 
used for inflamatory diseases and had a calming in- 
fluence on quarrels, discords, and hot temper gen- 
erally; a homeopathic touch of “like cures like” that 
is most naive. The symbolism of color plays a great 
part in all these cures. The heat of a fever was sup- 
posed to be absorbed by the red of the garnet. Gar- 
nets were used for all patients, but “those born in 
January felt a mystic influence over the twelve parts 
of the anatomy that greatly helped the cure.” 

In 1867 an old writer stated he was told that 
the rulers of the Island of Ambion owned a magic 
carbuncle brought to them by a serpent. This ruler, 
when a child, lay sleeping in a hammock under the 
trees. A great serpent crept up and dropped the 
gorgeous glowing red stone on his breast. In grati- 
tude for this gift, the parents gave the serpent food 


18 


Mystic Gems 


and drink and by virtue of its power they became the 
rulers of the island. The stone shone so brilliantly at 
night that the corner of the room where it lay was 
alight. Later it is said, it came into the possession of 
the King of Siam. 

Benvenuto Cellini tells a marvelous story of a 
“Juminous garnet” or a carbuncle, as follows: 

“Jacopo Cola, a vine grower, going into his vine- 
yard at dusk one night, noticed a gleam of light in 
a far-off corner among the vines. Hastening toward 
the glowing light, he could not locate it, for the radi- 
ance had vanished into darkness. Then returning 
to his home, he was about to give up the search, 
when again it flashed, and again he carefully ap- 
proached the gleam and found it at last in the heart 
of a rough stone at the foot of a vine. Joyfully he 
took the stone back and showed it to his friends, and 
one of them, being acquainted with precious jewels 
through his travels in Rome, bought it for ten scudi, 
and later sold it to a Venetian envoy, who carried 
it to Constantinople, there selling it to the Sultan for 
100,000 scudi.” 

The garnet crystals are often found in river beds, 
or imbedded in rocks like plums in a pudding, or 
seeds in the pomegranate. Some are easily taken 
out by the fingers, or with a pocket knife. These 


19 


Mystic Gems 


crystals are many sided and irregular in outline. 
They often form over other minerals, so when bro- 
ken, small grains of quartz are found. Garnets have 
been found in East Woodstock, Maine, having an 
inner part of calcite. 

It is interesting to know how stones become pol- 
ished even before man discovers their hiding places. 
Stones cut each other, that is, when the water in a 
river rushes into a pocket in which stones are con- 
fined in the bed rock, the constant action of the water 
causes the stones continually to rub against each 
other, thereby polishing themselves. Gem cutters 
use the same method in polishing and bringing out 
the brilliancy latent in the cleavages or planes of the 
stones. 

The “Cape Ruby” is a beautiful variety of garnet 
found in South Africa, and has always been associ- 
ated with the best diamonds. It is found in the river 
beds, quite at home with the diamond there. To- 
gether with other stones, it is washed down the river 
beds in the freshets. In the Ural Mountains violet 
and cinnamon colored garnets are found, also some 
so green that they are often taken for emeralds, or 
olivines, “Unanonite,” it is then called, which is a 
very hard variety of garnet. The “Essenite” is a 
garnet of a soft “ dregs of wine” color, like a jacinth. 


20 


Mystic Gems 


Ancient Alabanda, in Caria, Asia Minor, produced 
the finest variety of garnets in size and color. These 
were in great demand in Rome, and were set by the 
Roman metal workers in amulets, rings, bracelets, 
and necklaces. These stones are to-day noted for 
their soft red-violet color and exceptional brilliancy. 

Bohemia is the greatest garnet centre in the world. 
It is interesting to note that before the war, ten 
thousand men were steadily employed in cutting, 
setting and making garnet jewelry. Three thousand 
of these alone cut and ground the smaller stones for 
use in the watch-making industry, and as emery dust 
for machinery. 

We have garnets of beauty and value in the Navajo 
Territory, Arizona and New Mexico. They are col- 
lected by the Indians and soldiers from huge ant 
hills, where they are guarded by scorpions. Perhaps 
the ants and scorpions have an eye for color, for they 
are not soft playmates, those garnets! 

In Alaska the garnets lie in the Striken River. If 
found in Montana this stone is called the “ American 
Ruby,” and is of the blood-red variety. In Warrens- 
burg, N. Y., garnets are mined from beds in granite 
pockets. Some of the pockets are as large as a 
bushel basket. Some of the most valuable stones 
are egg, or bean shaped, and are of fine quality. 


21 


Mystic Gems 


Precious stones of many varieties have been found 
in New York State. The largest gem stone found in 
Manhattan Island is an enormous garnet weighing 
nine and a half pounds, known as the Kunz Garnet, 
given by Dr. Kunz to the National History Museum. 
It was discovered while excavating in Herald Square, 
New York City. 

Garnets were also found when the McAlpine Hotel 
was built. A choice quarry was located in 1888 at 
Broadway and 65th Street. Here from one pocket 
alone fifty-nine garnets were taken. A dealer who 
bought the output was rewarded by finding in addi- 
tion 1,000 fine stones. 


22 


CHAPTER II 


THE AMETHYST FOR FEBRUARY 


The February-born may find 
Sincerity and peace of mind 
Freedom from passion and from care 
If she an amethyst will wear. 


February’s stone is the amethyst and is assigned to 
Pisces, the Zodiacal sign for that month. Those born 
in this month have the gift of sincerity. Of old it 
was said the possession of an amethyst prevented 
violent passions, appetites, and desires of the body, 
and insured peace of mind after conflict and tempta- 
tion had been overcome. The soothsayers claimed 
the virtues of this stone for those in any sort of busi- 
ness,—for lawyers, soldiers, sailors, and “those who 
loved the hunt and chase.” It was also supposed to 
produce sleep, and the superstition that it brings im- 
munity from trials and troubles is still most popular. 

This is the precious stone dedicated to the Bishops, 
and, curiously enough, to the heathen Bacchus as 
well. The Book of Seals says, “A bear, if engraved 
on an amethyst, will put to flight demons, and pre- 
serve the wearer from drunkenness.” The name of 
the stone in Greek is “ amethustos,” meaning “ not to 


23 


Mystic Gems 


inebriate,” and thence come the merry tales of Bac- 
chus and Diana. 

There is a pretty legend in French verse which 
. tells of the god Bacchus, offended by some neglect of 
Diana. “He was determined to avenge himself, 
and declared that the first person he met should be 
devoured by his tigers. So by the forest path, in the 
company of his friends and animals, he gayly 
traveled. Fate willed it that the beautiful maiden 
called Amethyst was on her way to worship at 
Diana’s shrine when Bacchus saw her. In fear of 
the tigers, Amethyst called to Diana to save her, and 
there, before his eyes, Bacchus saw the beautiful 
maiden changed to a pure white sparkling image of 
stone. With regret and repentance, Bacchus poured 
the juice of the grape as a libation over the stone, 
thus giving it the exquisite violet shade for all time 
to come.” 

So, according to the legend, we owe the color to 
Bacchus, and it is said that he also promised to all 
who drank wine from cups of amethyst that they 
could by no chance become intoxicated. 

The amethyst is surrounded with sentimental in- 
terest in all times of the worlds history. In mediaeval 
times it was the soldier’s amulet, preserving the 
wearer in battle. Many a pious crusader who nightly 


24 


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AMETHYST 


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Old square stones and pendant—A “star” amethyst pendant— 
Carved Chinese pendant with fruit and bird motives. 


Mystic Gems 


told his beads, relied also upon the “ purple stone ” 
that hung as a charm beside his rosary. 

In the old days it was claimed that two days of the 
week were given to the amethyst,—Wednesday and 
Thursday, and that the wearer was guarded by three 
planets,—Venus, goddess of love, Jupiter, and Mars. 

According to these old writings this stone “should 
be worn on Thursday and set in copper.” Roman 
matrons valued the stone most highly as a charm to 
retain the affections of their spouses. A German 
writer of the Eleventh Century says, “an amethyst 
owned by a man attracts to him the love and af- 
fection of noble women, and protects him from 
thieves.” 

The amethyst colors of red and blue, making vio- 
let, are symbols of power and light. The deep violet 
color stands for true and deep love. Poets have called 
it the stone typical of the dawn and the evening, the 
deep azure purple of the beginning and the ending of 
the day. It was dedicated to Saint Valentine who is 
said to have worn a ring of amethyst “bearing a 
figure of cupid.” The old customs of St. Valentine’s 
Day which featured Cupid, give a certain appropri- 
ateness to this idea of the ring. 

Moreover, it was given the name of “Arthur” as 
well as amethyst, to indicate that it was a male stone. 


25 


LT a | 
Mystic Gems 


The Egyptians called the stone “hemag.” The 
signet ring of Cleopatra was of amethyst engraved 
with the figure of Mittras, the Persian deity who sym- 
bolized the Divine Idea, the source of light and love. 

The Egyptians believed that the different stones 
were endowed with certain talismanic properties, 
and that these stones, combined in strings of beads 
for the neck, afforded adequate protection from all 
manner of evil. Both men and women wore these 
necklaces. 

In the Egyptian Book of the Dead, much is made 
of a heart cut out of amethyst, and in the great 
Boulaq Museum in Cairo there are preserved two 
heart-shaped amulets of amethysts. 

One of the most beautiful in design of the old 
Egyptian necklaces was recently acquired by the 
Boston Museum. It belonged to Princess Sat Hartror 
Ant, of the Twelfth Dynasty, and is composed of 
eighty-eight beads in all shapes, from one-fourth to 
two-fifths of an inch in diameter. The beads are 
slightly flattened, and bored from end to end meet- 
ing in the middle, drilled by hand, and the amethysts 
are sand-polished which gives them the dull finish. 
The whole is set in symbolic gold carving and con- 
stituted a charm of great power for the protection 
of the wearer. 


26 


Mystic Gems 


The amethyst was the ninth stone in the breast- 
plate of the high priest of Israel and was called 
“allamah,” meaning in Hebrew “amethyst,” and sig- 
nifying the controlling power of virtue by the 
medium of dreams. It was the stone of the tribe 
of Dan, standing for “ Judgment,” —hence the ame- 
thyst for justice and courage. It has always been 
associated with religious forms, and from long usage 
has been the Episcopal gem in the Bishop’s ring. 
Its color is regarded as imparting especial dignity 
and beauty to the priesthood of the Roman Church, 
and is that of the royal raiment of kings. 

The amethyst belongs to the quartz family. There 
is the smoky quartz, the yellow and brown quartz 
known as the brothers, and the white mystic one 
which discloses the future to crystal gazers, is 
one of the sisters. The rock crystal is the finest of 
all the family, and the tourmaline shows its rainbow 
colors in columns so beautiful that it would seem as 
though a touch would melt them into air. 

Beryls and topazes are the companions of the ame- 
thyst and are often found together in the earth. 
There is no doubt that of the quartz family the ame- 
thyst is the most popular. There has never been a 
period when this stone, with its royal violet color, 
was not in fashion. Even the softer colors were 


27 


Mystic Gems 


popular, and the shades of brown and grey stones 
are exceedingly beautiful. 

In its native crystal state the amethyst looks like 
a bed of violets springing from the rough brown or 
grey granite stone with its pointed crystals shading 
from white to lavendar, lilac, violet, red violet, and 
purple, flashing in the light, a mass of beautiful 
color. 

Amethyst crystals are found in huge blocks on 
Mackinac Island and on the shores of Lake Superior. 
Thunder Bay was noted for the light, brilliant quality 
of the stones found there. Large pieces of the stone 
found with rose quartz, a sister stone, are used for 
ornaments, both indoors and out. In Connecticut, 
similar blocks are used to enliven the dull stone 
walls. These have no gem value, but nevertheless 
are of the same family,—poor relations, maybe. 

Ceylon and Brazil are noted for their beautiful 
amethysts. The natives cut them before sending 
them to the cities, the “facet” cut being the most 
popular, though a fine stone “en cabochon” (which 
means cut in a high, dome-shaped manner) is 
probably worth more. With a combination of both 
cuts, these stones are truly marvelous. 

The Bengal amethyst is one of rare color and it is 
not often found in these days. Its exquisite pink 


28 


Mystic Gems 


flush over the purple gives it a gorgeous wine color, 
soft and indescribable. 

Amethysts are often found in the British Islands. 
In Scotch literature, a city of gems is described by 
Lucien in his “Vera Historia.” “The walls were of 
emeralds, the temples for the gods were formed of 
beryls, and the altars in each were of a single ame- 
thyst block of enormous size. The city itself was of 
gold, a fine setting for these marvelous gems.” 

In the Louvre, there is an amethyst engraved on 
both faces. On the upper face is a priest with his 
wand or staff, and on the reverse side is a priest with 
an incense burner, offering vegetable and mineral 
sacrifices. This is an old Egyptian amulet which be- 
longed to one of the Pharoahs. The gold work of the 
setting is most elaborate. 

The intrinsic value of the amethyst to-day is not 
so great as that of the stones which are called “ pre- 
cious.” At one time, however, the amethyst was very 
rare and most valuable. A necklace of matched 
gems was made for Queen Charlotte of England at a 
cost exceeding two thousand pounds. 

It is truly a royal stone whose color dignifies the 
wearer. From the ring of Edward the Confessor was 
taken the great, glorious amethyst now found in the 
crown of Great Britain’s ruler. It is imbued by tra- 


29 


Mystic Gems 


dition with the power to save the King from con- 
tagious diseases. 


CHAPTER III 
THE BLOODSTONE FOR MARCH 


Who on this world of ours her eyes 
In March first opens may be wise, 
In days of peril firm and brave 
Wears she a Bloodstone to her grave. 


To March belongs the bloodstone, a variety of jas- 
per which belongs to the famous quartz family, 
though the bloodstone is not one of its crystals. It 
is found in white, yellow, green and red, but the 
jasper is more often red than green, and where the 
two colors have mixed together, the bloodstone re- 
sults, with added richness. Its relatives are the helio- 
trope stone and the hematite. 

From an old legend we learn that when the Roman 
soldier pierced the side of our Lord, the drops of 
sacred blood fell on the stones beneath the cross. 
These stones were green jasper quartz, and since 
that time these stones, wherever found with drops 
of blood red in them, have been known as “ blood- 
stones,” and they have come to be greatly venerated. 

This is the stone of wisdom, courage, and strength. 
The possession of it was supposed to bring the 
owner health and strength, mentally and physi- 


31 


Mystic Gems 


cally, to guard him from deception, and to give him 
the respect and consideration of his companions. 


Who wears a Jasper, be life short or long, 
Will meet all dangers brave, wise, and strong. 


The ancient peoples had curious “touching stones,” 
and the bloodstone was one of the most popular. 
It was placed in contact with food, even dipped into 
liquids, to detect poisons. In olden days it was con- 
sidered hardly possible for a person to be so poor 
that his house did not hold a piece of this stone. If 
it were the owner’s birthstone, its power was 
doubled. 

The many strange ideas regarding this stone 
caused it to be classed with the stones of mystic 
properties. The soothsayer, by means of it, pre- 
dicted future events. In producing rain, it was an 
“audible oracle.” It was said to have the power to 
turn the sun’s rays to blood-red, and create earth- 
quakes and convulsions of nature. It was thought 
that when cast into pure water, bubbles of gas arose, 
and the water became blood-red. 

To dream of bloodstones was to expect distressing 
news, yet the North American Indians always cut the 
bloodstones into heart-shaped pieces to ward away 
evil, as also did the Arabians. 


32 


BLOODSTONE 


Persian carving of dragon and soldier—Egyptian bead, native cut 
with silver chain—Polished and cut stones in 
necklace with pendant. 


_ TN 
Mystic Gems 


Jupiter and Saturn are the planets governing the 
month of March. To these, and to Thursday, the 
jasper is dedicated. Aries is the Zodiacal sign for 
this month and stone. 


Jove’s presence at birth 
Means a long swath to mow 
For if born on Thor’s day 
Thou hast far to go, 


In Paris there is an exquisitely carved head of 
Jesus Christ, so modeled that the drops of blood from 
the Crown of Thorns are of the red spots of the 
jasper. The Field Columbian Museum of Chicago 
contains another piece of statuary similarly carved 
from bloodstone. 

There are many tributes to the bloodstones in the 
old books of medicine, interwoven with folk lore. A 
recipe of powdered bloodstone and honey was used 
internally for tumors. Mixed with the juice of helio- 
trope flowers and rubbed over the face and hands of 
a person, tradition says it would render them invis- 
ible. Wearing this stone was thought to prevent 
bleeding to death. 

Vasari (1514-1578) wrote about one of his friends, 
Luca Signorelli, the artist, who did him a great 
service. He was watching his friend at work on 
an altar piece in a church at Orezzo when he was 


33 


Mystic Gems 


seized with a giddiness and hemorrhage, and fell 
fainting to the floor. He lay unconscious and might 
have died, had not Signorelli brought his bloodstone 
amulet and quickly used it to stay the flow of blood 
by placing it between his shoulder blades. 

The Egyptians wore jasper in jewelry of all kinds. 
As long ago as 5000 B. C., and on down through the 
years, it was a favorite with the Hebrew and Syrian 
peoples. It was used for prayer beads, having a 
heart-shaped pendant, and as such, was worn so 
smooth and soft, it was like a baby’s skin. In fact, 
the jasper is capable of being polished until it has 
the quality of velvet. 

This stone is a native of Egypt, Siberia, China, the 
United States and Canada. On the Island of Rum, 
in the Hebrides, are found stones of a fine quality. 
The gem variety which is rare and more valuable 
for jewelry, comes from the mines of India. It is al- 
ways popular for a seal ring or fob, and the modern 
style is more often plain, but highly polished. Stones 
used for rings in ancient times were cut signets com- 
posed of heads and figures of men and beasts, and 
were used as symbols. | 

Jasper is really one of the marbles and is as beauti- 
ful in masses as it is in small pieces. Before the 
Assuoan Dam is reached the Nile rapids seethe 


34 


Mystic Gems 


around the Elephantine Rocks which are of blood- 
stone, carved by nature. 

This dignified and beautiful green stone can be 
seen in the Old World churches, museums, and pal- 
aces, made into cups, statues, small vases, and bases 
of inlaid tables, altars, and even columns. 


35 


CHAPTER IV 
THE DIAMOND FOR APRIL 


She who from April dates her years 
Diamonds should wear, lest bitter tears 
For vain repentance flow. This stone 
Emblem of innocence is known. 


April’s stone is the diamond. In it are combined 
all the colors of the rainbow, and it gives out a clear, 
white radiance which has earned for it the first place 
among precious stones. It is a combination of icicle 
and dew drop, sparkling like frost on a cold winter 
night, and like raindrops caught by the rays of the 
sun. It is the gem of the spring and denotes inno- 
cence and repentance. 


Innocence, repentance—sun and shower— 
The diamond or the sapphire is her dower. 


Dr. Kunz tells the following legend in one of his 
books: 

“When the God of the Mines called his courtiers 
to bring him all known gems, he found them to be 
of all colors and tints and of varying hardnesses,— 
the ruby, emerald, sapphire, etc. He took one of 
each; he crushed them; he compounded them, and 


36 


DIAMOND 


Onyx ring 


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Boao 
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(a 


Mystic Gems 


said: “Let this be something that will combine the 
beauty of all; yet it must be pure and it must be in- 
vincible.’ He spoke, and lo! the diamond was born, 
pure as the dew drop and invincible in hardness. 
But when its ray is resolved in the spectrum, it dis- 
plays all the colors of the gems from which it was 
made. ‘Mine,’ said the god, ‘must be the gem of 
the Universe; for my Queen I will create one that 
_ shall be the greatest gem of the Sea.’ For her he 
created the pearl.” 
An Orphic poem, celebrated in the second century, 

says: 

The Evil eye shall have no power to harm 

Him that shall wear the diamond as a charm 


No monarch shall attempt to thwart his will 
And e’en the gods, his wishes shall fulfill. 


The diamond belongs to the planet Jupiter. The 
star-gazing Chaldeans have a tradition that it was in- 
fluenced by seven planets, and dominated by Saturn 
and the Sun in conjunction. There is a classical 
myth connected with the stone. In ancient times 
there was a man named Diamond of Crete who re- 
fused to obey the command of the oracle of Jupiter, 
whereupon the god transformed him to stone. 

The Hindus dedicated the diamond to Venus. 
Since she is the Goddess of Love, it is probable that 


37 


Mystic Gems 


the origin of a solitaire as the engagement ring grew 
from this. 

The virtues of the diamond were only attained if it 
were received as a gift, some writers claim. If the 
stone was stolen, dire misfortune followed the thief, 
for the spirit which guarded the stone would be of- 
fended. Old tradition says that the diamond was to 
be worn on the left hand or arm. A fine stone would 
lose its brilliancy if the women wearing it became 
sinful. 

In Sanskrit the diamond signifies “thunderbolt.” 
Another ancient name given to this stone was 
“adamas,” from the Greek root meaning “ adaman- 
tine.” 

The diamond is of the carbon family, and thus re- 
lated to coal. When rubbed with flannel it becomes 
electrified and shines in the dark and is phosphores- 
cent and magnetic. Science has long been absorbed 
in trying to make the diamond synthetically, and 
though it has been accomplished, the process is so 
difficult and expensive, that only very tiny stones re- 
sult. In 1893, Novissan of Paris produced micro- 
scopic black diamonds by heating iron saturated 
with carbon to a high temperature, and then sud- 
denly cooling the mass. Mr. Hasslinger has obtained 
diamonds similar to those found in South Africa by 


38 


Mystic Gems 


fusing a certain mixture, but the stones were very 
small, 

Like other stones, the diamond was thought by the 
ancients to have medicinal value. The dust of this 
stone was, however, a deadly poison and dire tales 
are told of its mixture with food or drink, in the 
days when poisoning was popular. Curiously 
enough, one old book on medicine explains that 
while glass was poison, diamond dust was an anti- 
dote for this and all poisons. The Hindus say that if 
an inferior diamond dust were used for medicine, 
lameness would result. Of course, diamonds as 
medicine were most costly, and given only to kings 
and popes. Pope Clemont VII, in 1532, had a mix- 
ture of powdered precious stones costing 40,000 du- 
cats, one dose alone of which cost 3,000 ducats, and 
most of this mixture was of diamonds. It is 
recorded, however, that after the fourteenth dose, 
Pope Clemont died! 

A Spanish book speaks of diamond dust as curing 
bladder troubles and preventing the plague. The 
efficacy of this treatment was uncertain at best, for 
the sick usually died. 

Aristotle tells the tale of Alexander in the Valley of 
Diamonds in Ceylon. “The natives told him that 
diamonds were generated in a valley where it was 


89 


Mystic Gems 


six months night and six months day. This valley 
was full of venomous creatures that guarded the 
stones; crawling over the sharp points of them em- 
bued the diamonds with their venom, so that any 
one who handled the stones would die of poison.” 
This served to keep the curious away. 

Sir John Mandeville writes of the diamond, “ They 
grow together, male and female, and are nourished 
by the mountain dew of heaven. They engender 
commonly and bring forth small children that mul- 
tiply and grow all the year. I have often tried the 
experiment; keeping a little of the rock, with the 
diamond, and letting it be watered by the May dew 
often, they grow every year a little.” But he does 
not say how long it would take to obtain satisfactory 
results! 

Another author writes, “A lady of quality, a noble 
woman of Luxemburg, worthy of credence, had two 
diamonds bequeathed to her, and with them were 
produced others in most miraculous wise.” 

The diamond is found in alluvial soil, even some- 
times loose in beds of streams like common pebbles, 
or great pieces of ice, covered with soil and grime. 

India was the prize country for diamonds in 1304. 
Then came marvelous stones from the diamond dis- 
trict and market of Golconda, between Bombay and 


40 


Mystic Gems 


Madras. In the southern portion was found the Kohi- 
noor which means the “ Mountain of Light,” and in 
1850 the uncut stone was taken to England where it 
was cut from 186 karats to 106. It was valued at 
$700,000, and is now one of the Crown jewels. A 
precious stone without a rival is the blue diamond 
of Mr. Hope. Its weight is 441% karats and its color 
is the blue of the most beautiful sapphire, added to 
an admantine luster of the utmost brilliancy. 

In Brazil, in 1728, curious crystals were found by 
the gold miners in river sands while washing the gold 
in the pans. These proved to be diamond crystals. 

In 1867 the great South African diamond industry 
was brought into being, and it has fairly altered the 
map and history of that country. One day a little 
child of Barkley, on the West Vaal River, found a 
“blinken klippe ” (brilliant stone), while playing in 
the sand. She took it home; it was bought by John 
O’Reilly, a roving trader, who sent it to Grahams- 
town where it was tested and pronounced a dia- 
mond. In March, 1869, a superb stone of 83 karats’ 
weight was found in the same place, and sold for 
$125,000. It is called the Star of South Africa. So 
the great diamond industry began. 

Amsterdam is called “the diamond city.” The 
market consists principally of one unpretentious 


41 


Mystic Gems 


street, Tulp Straat, where the huge bulk of all the 
diamonds of the world are bought and sold, after 
being cut and valued. The “genius boss” of the 
street is a man Charles Dickens himself would have 
enjoyed. 

Thirteen and one-half millions of dollars worth of 
precious stones were imported into the United States 
in 1900, of which twelve million dollars were dia- 
monds. For jewelry, machinery, and other purposes, 
diamonds are of essential value. 

The greatest event in diamond history was in the 
year 1908, when there was cut in Amsterdam the 
great Cullinan diamond, destined to be the brightest 
jewel of England’s crown. That crown weighed 
thirty-nine ounces, five penny weight before the Cul- 
linan diamonds were added. They were eleven in 
number,—the largest in existence, with flames of 
blue white. 

This crown of England is noteworthy. It contains 
2,818 diamonds and 207 pearls among other rare and 
exquisite jewels—the amethyst we spoke of recently, 
a ruby valued at $500,000, given to the Black Prince 
of Spain in 1367. The Cullinan diamond was given 
to King Edward in recognition of his having given 
the Transvaal colony a constitution. 

There are many well-known diamonds, and their 
histories would fill a book. 


42 


Mystic Gems 


The famous Eugénie diamond, given to the Em- 
press by Napoleon III, was found in India. It was 
first offered to a blacksmith for repairing a plough 
and he threw it away in anger, then later repented, 
found it and sold it for 6000 rupees to the ruler of 
Madras, who later sold it to Napoleon III. 

The Dresden Green Diamond, in the Green Vaults 
of Dresden, is valued at $60,000 and weighs 40 
karats; the “Polar Star,” owned by the Emperor Paul 
of Russia (where are they now?) and two Persian 
diamonds called the “Sea of Light,” 186 karats, and 
the “Crown of the Morn,” 146 karats, are all very 
famous. 

The Orloff, in the Russian crown, came from 
Hindustan. It was stolen from a Hindu idol with 
diamond eyes by a French grenadier who brought it 
to Madras. There an English sea captain took it and 
sold it to Orloff, of Russia, for $450,000 in cash and 
an annuity of $20,000. 

The DeSauer diamond dates from 1570, and came 
from Constantinople. It was sent to Henry of 
Navarre by a messenger who was attacked and 
swallowed the stone, thus saving it. Queen Elizabeth 
bought it in 1695, and sold it again to Louis XIV for 
$125,000. It appeared again and in 1828 was sold to 
Prince Demidoff of Russia. From there it went back 
to India, and was at home once more. 


43 


Mystic Gems 


In our country, diamonds are found in the Alle- 
gheny Mountains, Colorado, Manchester, Vermont, 
West Virginia, and in California, Wisconsin, and in 
Ohio, but none are of great size, color, or value. 


44 


CHAPTER V 
THE EMERALD FOR MAY 


Who first beholds the light of day 

In Spring’s sweet flowering month of May 
And wears an Emerald all her life 

Shall be a loved and happy wife. 


The Emerald is the birthstone for the month of 
May. It denotes hope and joy, and is the emblem of 
perfect happiness, success in love, and immortality. 
It is the stone for spring and youth. Its virtues are 
many. There is an old saying that an emerald should 
be worn on the index finger, thus giving the wearer 
marvelous memory. To gaze into its depths would 
purify one’s thoughts. Cardano declared the emer- 
ald sharpens the wits and quickens the intelligence, 
making people also more honest and true. It con- 
ferred riches upon its owner and the power of pre- 
dicting the future, but only, so the legend says, if the 
light green emerald were used and placed under the 
tongue. 

The lucky stone for Friday is the emerald, and it 
is therefore the stone of the planet Venus. 

If Venus shall bless thee, 
Thou shalt bless many living: 


For Friga’s bairn truly 
Is loving and giving. 


45 


NN 
Mystic Gems 


In love affairs the emerald was an invaluable help 
to those smitten by Cupid’s shaft, for it revealed the 
truth or falsity of lovers’ oaths in short order, and no 
mistakes! Even though assigned to Venus, it stood 
for the highest form of love and testified to the 
fidelity of lovers, the color waxing deeper or waning 
paler as love came and went. 


It is a gem that hath the power to show 
If plighted lovers keep their troth or no; 
If faithful, it is like the leaves of spring, 
If faithless, like those leaves when withering. 


The emerald is one of the beryl family, the most 
noted child, and it is almost impossible to find it ina 
flawless state, since it is quite soft when first mined, 
becoming harder by exposure to the air. The crystals 
are dislodged from the matrix by water force, and 
collected by natives lowered down the shafts to the 
mines. In its crystaline form it has six sides, and 
when cut, the natural planes of the crystal are fol- 
lowed. The emerald has never been found in abun- 
dance, whether mined in Bogota, in the mines of 
Cleopatra, at Zabarah, Egypt, or, in the past century, 
in the Ural Mountains. The remains of some of 
these ancient Egyptian mines have recently been 
discovered, and are of vast interest. 

The names the ancients gave this stone, though 


46 


EMERALDS 


Emerald beads from a Chinese mandarin’s chain, with pearls— 
Mexican gold brooch and pendant—Spanish pin and Russian 
brooch—A square cut emerald ring—Copy of Queen Ti’s 
famous ring—Necklace with silver drops—A 
high pointed cabochon emerald—Ring of 
deep set emeralds and pearls. 


Mystic Gems 


differing slightly in the Persian, Greek and Latin, 
signify always, “the sea,” “it is of water.” The 
derivation of its present name is from the old French 
word “esmeraldra,” and comes down through the 
modern French “emerande.” So old is the emerald 
in the hands of man that two thousand years before 
Columbus dreamed of the New World, or Pizarro 
gathered stones by the hundreds from the spoils of 
Peru, there were found rare emeralds set in gold in 
the mounds of Tuscany, Herculaneum, and Pompeii. 
In the time of Alexander the Great, at the famous 
wedding feast of his eighty companions and their 
beautiful Persian brides, they used the emerald with 
pearls from the Persian gulf, as the richest 
ornaments to be devised. 

Carved emeralds were very rare, the beauty of the 
stone exempted it from cutting,—in most cases en 
cabochon was the rule, the dome-like surface giving 
the greater depth of color, and suggesting its name- 
sake, the sea. 

Of the clear green of the emerald Pliny says: 
“There is no color so pleasing to the eye as that of 
the emerald. It is the only stone that charms without 
wearying the eye. Its lustre is not dependent on the 
sun or shade, nor artificial light. It shines contin- 
ually with the same soft glow.” Chemists have 


47 


Mystic Gems 


claimed that the green of the emerald is the only 
pure color. Heliodorus, some two thousand years 
ago said, “These gems are as green as the meadows 
in the spring.” It foreshadowed the future in its 
clear bright depths, for like visions seen in rock 
crystal, the eye seeks to read the emerald. It is 
very often designated as the purely virginal stone. 
Moore sings, in “Lalla Rookh”: 


Blinded like serpents when they gaze 
Upon the emerald’s virgin blaze. 


The emerald is a spiritual stone. The ancients said 
the light of Paradise was the color of a perfect em- 
erald. In the Mohammedan Koran, the color of the 
first Heaven is this same deep green, and in the Book 
of Revelations it is written of the Rainbow, “It is like 
unto an emerald.” Alford says: “The form is that 
of the covenant bow, the color even more refreshing 
and more directly symbolizes grace and mercy— 
which is Charity.” It stood for kindness and good- 
ness and for strength of faith in adversity. The em- 
erald is nourished with natural oil, that its trans- 
parent beauty may not change. - The old writings 
say, “We conceive this stone to signify John the 
Evangelist,” who was designated the “Oil of Charity.” 

The third of the twelve stones in Aaron’s breast- 


48 


Mystic Gems 


plate was an emerald. Its color is the canonical 
color, and it was used in religious observances and 
festivals, on altars and vestments. There is an 
old legend that when an emerald is worn by a 
celibate, he becomes invisible. 

It was an old superstition that the emerald was an 
enemy to conjurers and _tricksters,—magicians 
“could not weave a spell” if one were near. To 
dream of emeralds meant that there was “much to 
look forward to;” to wear them would give second 
sight, insight and foresight. A Parisian Oracle in 
mystics, Baron d’Orchamps, says, “Emeralds should 
not be worn by women before they are fifty, but 
men may wear them without danger at any age.” 

A ring containing an emerald was used in the 
Seventeenth Century for divination. The ring was 
suspended by a string over a bow] full of water, the 
edges of the bowl marked by letters of the alphabet. 
It answered questions by swaying against the letters. 
A man might call a devil, question him and receive 
answers, if he held an emerald in his mouth. Indeed, 
the clamor for the Ouija board today might perhaps 
be lessened, were those of us who possess an emerald 
to revive these interesting bits of ancient pastime. 

Hindu physicians used the emerald for cures in all 
eye troubles, calling it cold and sweet to the taste. 


49 


Mystic Gems 


Jewel workers of old rested their eyes while at work 
by gazing on an emerald. It was used in water for 
eye baths, causing inflamation to cease. Aristotle, in 
his book on gems, says, “An emerald hung from the 
neck or worn in a ring will prevent the ‘falling sick- 
ness. We, therefore, commend noblemen that it 
be hanged about the necks of their children that they 
fall not into this complaint.” Nero, the Emperor of 
the Romans, used one as a monocle. Powdered 
emeralds were used in the Seventeenth Century as 
a drug taken internally for dysentery, epilepsy and 
bites by serpents, scorpions and others, also as a 
remedy for fevers. 

Perhaps lured by the desire to possess this clear 
green gem, Cortez and his followers in the Sixteenth 
Century, crossed the sea and undertook the conquest 
of Peru. The emeralds he obtained from the Incas 
were brought to Spain and it was said they were 
marvels of stone cutting. One was carved as a rose, 
another as a fish with inset eyes of gold, another was 
a bell with a large pearl serving as a clapper. Dur- 
ing the years following Cortez’s visit, large quantities 
of emeralds were brought to Europe. Joseph 
d’Acosta, a noted traveler of that period, says that 
the ship in which he traveled to Spain carried two 
chests weighing one hundred pounds each, full of 


50 


Mystic Gems 


fine emeralds. Pliny records a tale of “ a marble 
lion with flashing emerald eyes which was set as a 
guard over the tomb of a petty king called Hermias.” 
This tomb was on the seacoast and the lion’s eyes at 
night frightened away the tunney fish, to the great 
loss and distress of the fishermen. 

Many of the old and celebrated emeralds are now 
found to be of glass—whether they were so originally 
or substituted by thefts, is of course unknown. The 
Genoese emerald, now the famous “Sacro Catino,” 
in the form of a cup or dish, is supposed to have 
been used by Christ in The Last Supper. At one 
time the church offered this to a Jew for the pledge 
of 100,000 crowns. When redeeming it, years later, 
there was great dismay to find six others claimed it. 
The Jew had copies made in green glass, so none 
were sure of the original. 

Another tale says that from 1490 to 1555 a 
monastery near Lyons preserved a dish or shallow 
cup of emerald, called the Holy Grail. Agricola tells 
of this, and also another, in a chapel in Prague, 
measuring nine inches in diameter. 

In Magdeburg was an emerald believed to have 
been the handle of Otto I’s knife, since it was per- 
forated, as many Oriental stones are for hanging 
from a string or chain. 


51 


Mystic Gems 


One of the most famous emeralds in the world 
surmounts the jeweled crown on the image of the 
Virgin del Sagratio, in the Cathedral of Toledo, 
Spain. It is a sphere, perfect in cut, one and one- 
half inches in diameter. The crown was made by a 
goldsmith, San Diego Alejoda Montoya, of Toledo, 
who began it in 1574, taking twelve years to com- 
plete it. The images of Faith, Hope and Charity are 
on if, and on Charity’s head is placed the emerald 
sphere. It was stolen from the church by Marshal 
Junot who visited the Cathedral in 1809, during the 
French occupation. Seeing the emerald, he plucked 
it from its setting, saying to the bystanders: “This 
belongs to me!” and into his pocket it went. To 
replace this, a glass emerald was later placed on 
Charity’s head. 

Albertus Magnus relates of King Bela of Hungary, 
that he had two treasures which he dearly loved— 
his emerald and his wife. One day, greatly to his 
grief, the emerald on his finger broke into three parts 
while he was embracing his beloved wife. 

A talismanic emerald was once the property of 
the Mogul of Delphi, and was recently offered for 
sale in European markets. It is deep green and 
weighs seventy-eight karats. On the edge of the 
stone, in Persian characters, runs the inscription: 


52 


Mystic Gems 


“He who possesses this charm shall enjoy the special 
protection of God.” 

Queen Elizabeth, of England, gave an emerald to 
Henry IV, of France, and reminded him in her well- 
known manner that the gem possessed “the virtue of 
not breaking so long as faith was kept between them, 
entire and firm.” 

The Duke of Devonshire has the most beautiful 
and the largest known uncut emerald. It is a six- 
sided crystal, two inches long and two inches in 
diameter, perfect in color, transparent and almost 
flawless. 

At the time when Mexico and Peru produced em- 
eralds as cheaply as they have ever been produced in 
history, lamps and shades were often decorated with 
them. The Orient drew the largest amount of this 
flood of jewels. Mexican history tells of a throne of 
gold in the palace of Texcuco, surmounted by a hu- 
man skull covered by a pyramidal emerald. The 
base of this emerald was so large that it covered the 
palm of the hand. Cortez took it and sent it to Spain, 
but the ship bearing it was held in battle with a 
French ship off the Azores, and so Francis I got the 
emerald. 

Another of Peru’s large stones, as large as an 
ostrich egg and called the “Great Mother,” was taken 


53 


Mystic Gems 


by Pizarro to Spain, but was captured by a pirate 
ship on the journey. 

The finest emeralds in Europe were in Russia and 
belonged to the Emperor. The sceptre of Poland, 
which was in the Kremlin, has a broken emerald in 
its top. 


CHAPTER VI 


THE AGATE FOR JUNE 


Who comes with summer to this Earth 
And owes to June her hour of birth 

With ring of Agate on her hand 

Can health, wealth and long life command. 


June’s birthstone is the Agate. Those born under 
the June skies should be eloquent, full of health, 
assured of a long life and prosperity. Its virtues 
were those of “guarding from all dangers if worn by 
a bold heart,” victory over temptation, and caution 
with regard to acquiring wealth. 

To June belongs the following poem, since this 
month is in the sign of Cancer: 


If born in Cancer’s sign, they say 
Your life will joyful be alway 
If you take with you on your way an agate. 


The Dream Book says: “To dream of agates will 
bring pleasant dreams to those born in June, but 
misfortune will befall those who wear the agate, or 
dream of this stone,”—if not born in this month. It 
also suggested “a journey to come.” 

To the agate was dedicated the midnight hour 
when mystic deeds were done. It is dedicated to the 


55 


Mystic Gems 


works of science, and was highly esteemed, even 
venerated, among the ancients. 

Agates are found in many colors,—white, grey, 
dull red, blue, yellow and brown. Each color had a 
separate and distinct virtue, as is attested to by the 
Egyptians who made images of their gods carved 
from all the colors of the stone. The savage tribes of 
Africa often used the magic black and white agate 
as a “hoodoo” against enemies. 

The wonderful Aleppo stones of Arabia are known 
as “eye agates” with pupil and iris of brown and 
blue-white rings. So nearly like the human eye 
are these that they are frequently used as eyes in 
images of the gods in Egypt, as well as in the mum- 
mies of the great kings and priests. When used in 
these, they look so lifelike that the effect is often 
startling. In the Metropolitan Museum, in New 
York City, there are several examples of this use of 
the Aleppo agate. 

The white part of the agate represented the old 
year, with its knowledge, and the dark part of the 
stone, the new year, since its future was dark and 
obscure. They were used for New Years’ gifts, and 
given especially to one born on the last day of the 
year—sSt. Sylvester’s Day. 

It was said that the member of a family, or house- 


56 


AGATE 


The famous “eye” agate—Chinese carving of green on white 
agate—Chain and pendants of blue agate called “Chalce- 
dony’”—The green moss agate and crystals of china. 


Siipenssennsesusseeesssnsnnssiosssnanssecnsensnannseensmnsiessmsesasssnseeeenneteeer nen SS 
Mystic Gems 


hold, who was the last to arise on St. Sylvester’s Day, 
would be late on every succeeding day throughout 
the year, as well as for every event during that year. 

An old motto says: “Adorned with this, thou 
woman’s heart shall gain, and by persuasion thy 
desire obtain, and if of man thou anything demand, 
shalt come with all thy wish fulfilled, rejoicing 
home.” 

The agates belong to the Quartz family and the 
moss agate is a close relative of the bloodstone and 
jasper, and shares the strength that is accredited to 
these stones of March. The carnelian, or sardonyx, 
is another member of the same family, and is 
August’s stone. These three, the bloodstone, moss 
agate, and the carnelian share the same general 
characteristics, though their colors vary greatly. 

The moss agates are the most remarkable and 
beautiful in color and form. In Hindustan they are 
called by the natives, the “Mocha stones,” and as 
such are frequently worshipped. The name is 
derived from an Arabian seaport, celebrated for its 
coffee, and the finest agates are found here. 

Both ancient and modern peoples believed that the 
mosslike patterns in colors, enclosed in the stones, 
were petrified vegetation so imprisoned, but, in 
reality, they are chemical formations of iron oxides, 


57 


Mystic Gems 


The fly in the amber is a real fly, preserved like a 
mummy, but the moss in the agate is like marvelous 
snowflakes and frost impressions, and was caused by 
gases and pressure when the stone was yet in a soft 
state, with floating particles of mineral. 

The story of the formation of the agate, in the 
darkness that lay on the face of the earth and waters 
in the ages of long ago, reads like a fairy tale. 
Cavities in the rocks held the water trickling in and 
out which in time, deposited a mineral sediment and 
evaporated. More and more water, then sediment, 
ad infinitum, and the agate was formed. Lakes, 
rivers, and the sea are the home of this stone. It is 
formed in trap rock in the West Indies and also in 
volcanic rock. | 

The eighth stone in the breastplate of the High 
Priest was called “Shebo,” the name given in Hebrew. 
to the grey and white agate. In the Book of Revela- 
tions, 21st Chapter, the 19th and 20th verses, in 
speaking of the foundation stones, an agate is men- 
tioned. In Isaiah, 54th Chapter, the 11th and 12th 
verses, it is referred to thus: “I will make thy win- 
dows of agate.” The bethrothal ring of the Virgin 
was cut from agate, and is now in the Cathedral of 
Perugia. The Bishop of Rennes wrote in the 
Eleventh Century, “The wearer of an agate shall be 


58 


Mystic Gems 


made agreeable and persuasive to man, and have 
the favor of God.” 

The Romans gave the name of onyx to this stone 
from its similarity to the lustre of the finger-nail. 
Other family names are chalcedony, sard, sardonyx, 
and moonstone. Achates was one of the ancient 
names given to the stone by the Greeks who dis- 
covered it in abundance in a river of the same name 
in Sicily. In Hebrew the name signifies, “shining, 
or gleaming stones.” 

Sir David Brewster writes that in one inch of agate 
there are 1750 layers of fine, threadlike lines of color. 
This stone is peculiar for its great hardness, sur- 
passing even steel in this quality. Because of this 
characteristic it is selected for the center of scales, 
pinions, and balances of clocks and watches. Some 
moss agates have been found in single blocks 
weighing as much as thirty pounds. 

The chief supply of agates comes from Brazil. 
India was the center of the agate trade of the world 
at one time, and Indian rivers are still full of agate 
pebbles. The beautiful green varieties are in China, 
but here, as in Germany, the stones often are colored 
artificially to give red and yellow. Germany has 
done this from the earliest times by boiling the 
stones in honey for days, even weeks, and then 


Mystic Gems 


putting them into hot sulphur baths. In 1497 the 
center of the agate-cutting industry was Germany. 
In the last century, gem cutters were at work cutting 
the stones for amulets, to send to the Soudan, South 
Africa. The cities of Idar and Oberstein led in this 
trade, single firms making as much as $30,000 an- 
nually. Of late the trade has fallen off. On the west 
coast of Africa only white agates are used, and while 
the fashion on the east coast is not so discriminating, 
all colors are in demand. 

The Rocky Mountains in the United States contain 
many agates. At Newport, R. 1. are found rare agate 
pebbles marked by nature with a design that is like 
a Chinese mystic sign, or monad, and this device has 
become widely known in the United States because 
of its adoption by the Northern Pacific Railroad 
Company as a symbol. In the trap rock of the Con- 
necticut River are many agates, and also in Missis- 
sippi and Minnesota, countless numbers of beautiful 
stones of all varieties were gathered by the Indians 
who called them “gleaming pebbles.” 

Stones with the same uncanny eyes as those which 
the Aleppo stones have are found on the shores of 
Lake Superior. 

Like the garnet, the agate was used in liquid form 
in extracts as medicine. This was a cure among the 


60 


Mystic Gems 


ancients for sleeplessness and it was applied to 
give a smooth skin, immunity from snake bites and 
eye troubles. Even now, our modern druggists keep 
tiny eye stones to chase the irritating cinders from 
ones eyes. In ancient Aleppo the natives suffering 
from boils found that the agate cured their suffering, 
and it is from this city that the Aleppo eye stone got 
its name. All western Asia used the agate for 
medicinal purposes and wore them around their 
necks for safety; these “eyes” were supposed to bring 
good luck. . 

There was published in Vienna, in 1709, a curious 
old print of an airship. Over the head of the aviator 
there was an iron network upon which were attached 
large coral-colored agates. These were beaten upon 
by the rays of the sun which magnetized them and 
the idea was that in this manner the craft was to 
be kept aloft. Alas for the airship when the sun 
did not shine! 

Cameos are cut from the agate which contains two 
or three parallel layers of color. This custom still 
continues though begun at a very early time. Many 
are the collections of beautiful carved agate cameos. 
In the famous King collection which can be seen in 
the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a piece of banded 
agate cut with the sign of Sagitarius, surrounded by 


61 


Mystic Gems 


stars. This is the earliest horoscopical gem known 
to be in existence. 

There is an interesting story told of Queen Eliza- 
beth and the agate. At one time she had a portrait 
of herself carved in agate, and mounted in a ring. 
This she gave to her lover, the Earl of Essex. When 
in a fury she ordered him to the Tower of London, 
he sent the ring in haste to Elizabeth by the hand 
of a messenger. Through an error, this messenger 
turned out to be Lady Nottingham, one of the Earl’s 
bitter enemies, who kept the ring and said nothing 
to Elizabeth. The Earl was executed, to Elizabeth’s 
deep regret. Later, when Lady Nottingham was 
dying, she sent for the Queen, told her about the 
mistake and gave her the ring at last. At this the 
Queen shook the dying woman in a royal rage, 
exclaiming, “He may forgive, I never shall.” 


62 


CHAPTER VII 


THE RUBY FOR JULY 


The gleaming ruby should adorn 
All those who in July are born, 
For thus they’ll be exempt and free 
From love’s doubts and anxiety. 


The glowing ruby is the birthstone for July, the 
month of warmth and color. It is the emblem of 
love, and in many languages it is called the “heart 
of love,” or “the lover’s stone.” In the Bible it is 
written that the worth of a good wife is above that 
of rubies. It is star-favorite of the members of the 
corundum family, though its honors are shared by 
its twin sister, the blue sapphire. 

Ruskin says of the ruby, “It is the loveliest 
precious stone of my knowledge—an uncut ruby.” 
The planet Mars is the guiding star of those who 
wear this birthstone. Savage tribes in the old world 
used rubies for bullets in order that the wounds 
given in battle be more deadly, and they even cut 
their flesh to insert rubies, thus insuring invulner- 
ability, as they thought, for then no part of the 
body could be harmed by spears. 

For the woman who wears the brilliant ruby, 


63 


Mystic Gems 


peace and love and concord with all men is assured. 
The old Dream Book speaks of it thus: “the ruby in- 
dicates joy and good fortune and the more rubies, 
the more joy. The owner of the ruby is feared by 
his enemies, when he wears the stone.” 

India is the home of the finest rubies ever mined, 
and no where else is this stone more valued for its 
beauty, they realiy worship a flawless specimen. 
There are four castes of rubies, as there are four 
castes of Hindoos, and woe betide the rubies that get 
mixed up. The ruby of the Brahmin order insures 
perfect safety to the owner, so long as it is not con- 
taminated by contact with an inferior, in which case, 
its power is destroyed. 

When a twin crystal is found in a ruby, it makes a 
wonderful six rayed star-shaped form, in a cloudy 
white film, over the red color of the stone. It flashes 
in the light, like something alive. Some of these 
stones are larger than an inch in diameter. 

The name ruby was given in Sanskrit. The an- 
cients called it “Sandastrous.” Pliny tells us that 
these rubies contained stellated bodies which he com- 
pared to the Hyades, objects of great devotion by 
the early Chaldean and Assyrian Magi. 

Aaron’s breastplate contained for its fourth stone 
what was called “Nopek,” which may have been car- 


64 


RUBY 


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Pa ee 
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Ves 
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2) 


Mystic Gems 


buncle, garnet, or even more probably an oriental 
ruby of lustre. On this stone was carved the name 
of Judah. The ruby has been called the most precious 
of the twelve stones. It was the gem of Job, the man 
of many trials, but at the end, a victor. A legend 
of India says that the Lord created this stone first, 
then he created man to own it. To-day it is usually 
called fourth among precious stones, the diamond, 
emerald, and sapphire preceding it. 

The ancients believed many things of the ruby. 
To them it was the “lord of gems,” the “highly 
prized,” and “dearly beloved.” They believed only 
fairness and happiness could come with its gay color. 
The dark red and star rubies were called the male 
stones, the pink, and pigeon blood were the female. 
The red color signifies stimulation, heat, life, and 
power. The people of old believed the heart of 
the ruby glowed as an unextinguished flame. Old 
books of magic art tell us that “it is full of heat, and 
if cast into cool water, will cause it to boil up 
suddenly.” 

Medicinally the ruby is said to preserve the bodily 
health of the owner. If rubies were applied for 
many diseases, cures of all kinds were expected to 
take place. In Annobias’ receipt for a “cure-all” 
there were thirty-four ingredients of powdered 


65 


Mystic Gems 


stones, precious and non-precious, and rubies were 
the most prominent in the mixture. 

Naharari, a physician of Cashmere, who wrote in 
Sanskrit of the medicine of the 13th Century, said 
“rubies are a valuable remedy for biliousness and 
flatulency.” A famous “ruby elixir” was com- 
pounded by a secret process at great expense, and 
was used only for the wealthy patients. The ancient 
method of applying the ruby as a cure was to place 
it on the tongue, which was rendered at once cold 
and heavy, so that only incoherent sounds could be 
emitted. The fingers and toes also became cold, and 
a violent shivering followed. Thus the bad symp- 
toms disappeared and a sense of elasticity and well- 
being followed—the cure was complete. This stone 
was also used as a disinfectant in dread diseases. 

Burmah, Ceylon, and Siam are the homes of the 
best rubies. They are taken from volcanic rock of 
granite and limestone in which they are imbedded. 
Great quantities are also found loose in streams or 
in dry river beds, which are called by the natives 
“ruby sands.” Rubies are seldom found larger than 
three karats. Those which exceed this weight are 
rare and extremely valuable, and are kept where 
they are mined, usually in India. 

Ruby mines were found seventy miles north of 


a : . 
LLL a nS SSS ssn) 


Mystic Gems 


the capital of Burmah, and also in the forest moun- 
tain region of upper Burmah, 4,000 to 8,000 feet 
above sea level, at Mogok, near Mandelay. The 
principal mines are situated in two valleys called 
Kathay and Kyatapyan, and are most inaccessible. 
The climate is unhealthy for all Europeans and so 
keeps them away. There is an old legend which tells 
of the birth of these ruby mines. Once upon a time 
three marvelous eggs were laid by a serpent in a 
nest. The first egg hatched out the Mogul of Pag, 
the second the Emperor of China, and the third the 
ruby mines of Burmah. 

In 1886 an Anglo-Italian firm paid annually to the 
Mogul of Burmah one hundred and _ twenty-five 
thousand dollars for the control of these mines. 
Later an English firm took them over, keeping the 
native workmen, however, because of the climate. 
Before 1886 the Capelan Mountains at Ava con- 
tained the finest mines, but very little is known of 
them now. They were near the capital of Burmah, 
but as the direction was only vaguely indicated, the 
exact location is uncertain. In 1795 Col. Symmes 
visited them with the British Consul, and wrote of 
his trip for publication. After that no Europeans 
were allowed to visit them, and they were very zeal- 
ously guarded. All the finest gems were held as 


67 


Mystic Gems 


the property of the Mogul, and among his titles was 
that of “Lord of the Rubies.” To mine these stones 
by primitive methods of digging, the natives sank a 
pit through the earth until the gem strata was 
reached. After removing the stones, they were sent 
to Amarapoora to be polished, then cut. 

In 1805 Professor Oldham found that one 
European had visited these mines. He was a desert- 
er from the British army who was much in favor 
with the Mogul, and was made by him Superin- 
tendent of the mines. When a fine specimen was 
discovered, word was sent to the Mogul and a 
procession of grandees and soldiers was sent to 
escort the gem to the Royal Treasury. The state 
carriages of the Mogul were decorated with native 
gems. 

Bambusson states that for one hundred and fifty 
years none of these ruby mines have been worked. 
All the rubies in the market were mined before that 
time, and those now offered for sale are from the 
collections of the ages. Three centuries ago it was 
often noted that in India people paid higher prices 
for rubies than did the Europeans. Consequently 
buyers collected in Europe, and returned to sell to 
the princes of India the rubies which came from 
India in the first place. 


Mystic Gems 


Most of the famous large, matchless rubies of to- 
day, either cut or uncut, set or unset, are to be found 
in the possession of those moguls, princes, maha- 
rajahs, and priests of India, who have received 
them as heirlooms or gifts, or have won them 
through battle. The Mogul of Burmah is said to 
possess a ruby the size of a pigeon’s egg, while the 
Mogul of Pag has one as large as a hen’s egg. The 
Mogul of Visapan has a ruby of fifty karats, and also 
one of seventeen and a half karats. The East India 
Company also claims a large stone. The Indian 
Buddhas are usually adorned on the forehead with 
a small ruby, since red is the symbol of the reincar- 
nation of this god. A ruby light is always chosen by 
the Hindoos for the dwelling places of their gods. 

Shah Jehan placed on the Taj Mahal, the tomb of 
his wife, a wreath of flowers of jewels, made of the 
finest gems in India. The roses were of the choicest 
rubies, with leaves of emerald glistening with 
diamond dew. 

The ancient Romans excelled in imitation of the 
ruby, both in hardness, color, and lustre. A num- 
ber of examples of their art are to be seen in Euro- 
pean cabinets. 

A story is told of the robber Duke Charles of Bur- 
gundy, who owned a collection of gems and carried 


69 


Mystic Gems 


them with him to his battles. One ruby was a mon- 
ster stone, given to him by Margaret of Anjou. One 
fated day he left it in his tent in a golden box, with 
a famous diamond. The Swiss captured it, and 
carrying it to Berne, offered it for sale to the wealthy 
Jacob Fuggen of Nuremberg. Suddenly it was dis- 
covered that this greatly prized stone was nothing 
but a lump of colored glass, undoubtedly of Roman 
origin. In 1280 a poem appeared in Germany which 
asserted that a good imitation ruby was as possessed 
of virtues as a precious stone. By a very abusive and 
indignant poem in reply, Volmas called for the death 
of such a rascal, and his sentiments. 

French loot from the summer Palace at Peking 
contained a green jade Emperor’s necklace, strung 
on a silken cord, and having a pendant of one huge 
ruby. Among the crown jewels of Persia, was the 
Chaie Sophy, a ruby the shape of half a hen’s egg. 
Another ruby of great beauty and interest is the one 
at the top of the Maltese cross in the English crown. 
This stone was the gift of King Pedro of Castile, 
after the battle of Najaro in 1367. 

It is interesting to note that the last message of 
Mary Queen of Scots to the Duke of Guise was ac- 
companied by a beautiful ruby ring. Martin Luther 
chose the ruby for his betrothal ring, set in gold, 


70 


Mystic Gems 


engraved with passages of Scripture. Philip de 
Valois said of the ruby: “It is the gem of gems, 
surpassing all other stones in virtue.” 

The price of a perfect ruby has always been high. 
In 1560 Cellini wrote that it was eight times that 
of the diamond. To-day it is about three times as 
costly as a diamond. Rarely do we hear of a ruby 
of more than ten karats in weight. Not long ago one 
of nine karats brought thirty-three thousand dollars 
in New York, and fifty thousand dollars in London. 
Two to three thousand dollars is the average per 
karat worth. At one time in Chicago a nine karat 
stone was sold for twenty-five thousand dollars, and 
one of eleven karats for eighty thousand. 


fe 


CHAPTER VIII 
THE CARNELIAN FOR AUGUST 


Wear a Carnelian, or for thee 

No conjugal felicity; 

The August-born without this stone 
"Tis said, must live unloved, alone. 


The Carnelian is the birthstone for August. It has 
many other names, such as sardonyx, sard and 
chalcedony and belongs to the quartz family. 

Of old, when the stone was found in three layers 
of color, black, white and red, it was thought these 
stood for the three cardinal virtues—humility, chas- 
tity, and modesty. The carnelian prevented misfor- 
tune when worn as an ornament, but the old Dream 
Book notes, “Carnelian: to dream of this stone 
means impending misfortune.” Victory in all 
oratorical contests except those of love was supposed 
to be assured by the wearing of this stone. The con- 
stant wearing of it by those who had a weak voice 
was recommended by the ancients, for the warm 
colored stone gave courage. 

This stone is supposed to have received its virtue 
from the Sun and Venus. The old books tell us it 
was influenced by the planets Jupiter and Mars, and 


72 


_ an eee i 


CARNELIAN 


Ancient seals—cameos—unset stone—Chinese pendants with 
Persian and Indian beads and silver work. 


Mystic Gems 


was in the Zodiacal sign of Virgo, belonging also to 
Thursday. 

The name carnelian is derived from the Latin 
word “carnio,”—flesh, and refers to the color. It is 
a translucent stone and takes a very high polish. 
It is found in all colors, often banded or blended 
one tone over the other, yellow and red with a tinge 
of brown, or is cloudy white with blue lights as 
found in the moonstone. The yellow carnelian is 
considered the female stone, the red being the male. 
The sard, sardonyx, or onyx, is a marble variety of 
the family, deep red in color. Chrysoprase is a 
“relative,” green in color, chalcedony is a bluish 
stone, and the agate often yellow. 

This stone is the emblem of loyalty to Christ. The 
Bible, in referring to it calls it sard, chalcedony, and 
frequently agate. It has been said that the Children 
of Israel, when living in the desert, engraved figures 
on carnelians and used them as seals, just as they are 
used to-day, though the ancient ones were more 
roughly cut. It is undoubtedly true that this was 
one of the first stones used and preserved in earliest 
times in Egypt. There has been some controversy as 
to whether this stone was the first or the eleventh 
stone in the Ephod of the High Priest. The first 
stone was called the “Odem,” and in 300 B. C. Theo- 


73 


Mystic Gems 


prastus wrote that it was of a red color, and called it 
carnelian, or sardonyx. The name of Reuben was 
engraved on it. 

The Arabians frequently engraved the following 
prayer on a carnelian to keep away evil and to de- 
liver the wearer from the wiles of the devil, and from 
the envious: 

“In the name of God, the Just, the very Just, I 
implore you, O God, King of the World, God of the 
World, deliver us from the devil who tries to do 
harm and evil to us through Bad people, and from 
the evil of the envious.” 

These people believed that to envy the health or 
wealth of a person would cause him or her to lose 
them, a result which would be brought about by the 
devil. 

Old medicine books show that the carnelian was 
also used medicinally “as a powder or worn as a 
ring, and was believed to prevent bleeding at the 
nose.” Ancient peoples used the stone with a carved 
intaglio for ornamental wear, believing that it would 
cure tumors, prevent or cure all voice and throat 
infections, and, because of its cooling and calming 
effect on the blood, still the angry passions. 

“The Book of Wings” was compiled in the Thir- 
teenth Century by Ragiel, and gives the names of 


74 


Mystic Gems 


the stones and the symbols to be carved on each, with 
a design. Thus,—“a man richly dressed and with 
a beautiful object in his hand” was to be engraved 
only on a carnelian, to check the flow of blood, and 
to confer honors on its owner. 

Chapter 156 of the Book of the Dead says: 

“This is the Chapter of the Buckle of Carnelian 
which is put on the neck of the deceased. The blood 
of Isis, the virtue of Isis, the magic power of Isis, the 
magic power of the Eye are protecting this great 
one; they prevent any wrong being done to him.” In 
this chapter it is said that “the buckle of carnelian is 
dipped into the juice of aukhama, then inlaid into 
the substance of the sycamore wood and put on the 
neck of the deceased. Whoever has this chapter 
read to him, the virtue of Isis protects him; Horus, 
the son of Isis, rejoices in seeing him, and no way is 
barred to him.” 

This same book declares that a “heart-shaped 
amulet must always be worn.” This amulet was of 
carnelian on which was engraved Chapter 29 of the 
Book. Since the heart was regarded by them as the 
seat of life, this custom shows in what high honor 
this stone was held. When an Egyptian died, his 
heart was enclosed in a special receptacle and buried 
with the mummy. Only after it had been weighed in 


75 


Mystic Gems 


the balance of the “under world scales,” against the 
symbol of Law, the feather, could it regain its place 
as the seat of life in the body of the deceased, so 
the story goes. To the Egyptian the scarab which is 
a carving of a common Egyptian beetle, was the 
symbol of immortal life. It was worn as a ring and 
after death was placed on the heart of the mummy. 
On its reverse side it always bore the name of the 
owner. It was made of clay or carved from the car- 
nelian or other stones. In addition to this carving 
on the amulet, the images of living creatures were 
cut on the stone, the bull’s head being used 
frequently. 

In the Cairo Museum there are numbers of these 
amulets and scarab rings. In a special collection of 
the most perfectly carved, are nine carnelians which 
were without question the stones most favored in 
Egypt. The Egyptians used the carnelian for every 
kind of ornament. In the Eighteenth Dynasty, 1500 
B. C., there died a young woman of exalted position. 
Her mummy was adorned with necklaces, rings, belt, 
amulets and bracelets, and practically all of them 
had one or more beautiful pieces of this stone. Three 
carnelian figures of the god Bes, seven of the hippo- 
potamus goddess Tocris, one crocodile and four 
fishes, seven flower forms and two scorpions were 
on the first necklace alone! 


76 


Mystic Gems 


It is of interest to note that the Greek peoples had 
different amulets for each day of the week. For 
instance, the carbuncle and carnelian, used by sea- 
faring people, stood for the first day. 

Carnelian beads in strings of uneven cut and 
length were, and still are, very common in Japan. 
As long ago as the iron age, the natives had amu- 
lets made of this stone, which were buried with the 
dead, some of them having later been found in the 
old graves. 

The Bghai tribes of Burmah have superstitions 
woven around the carnelian as the Chinese have 
about the jade. They were installed as fetishes, and 
offerings of blood were made before them. “Spirits 
good and bad dwelt in stones,” they said, “and if we 
don’t give them blood to eat they will eat us!” “A 
man in one family died and his widow in wrath 
commanded their son to throw away the magic stone, 
but the spirits in the stone were not to be denied and 
the stone returned shortly, bringing two other stones 
with it, so the widow and her son were resigned,” 
an old tale relates. 

The popularity of the carnelian among Moham- 
medan peoples is said to be due to the fact that the 
Prophet himself wore on the little finger of his right 
hand a silver ring set with a carnelian engraved for 


77 


Mystic Gems 


use as a seal. One of the famous Inmans (an attend- 
ant to the Prophet), Jafar by name, lent the weight 
of his authority to the belief in the virtue of the 
carnelian, for he declared that all the desires of any 
man who wore this stone would be gratified. Hence, 
in Persia, the name of one of the twelve Inmans, Ala, 
and that of his successor, were frequently engraved 
on this stone. The Mohammedans credit the car- 
nelian with the power to preserve gravity and dignity 
in uproars, and they make a tooth pick of it to pre- 
vent bleeding of the gums. 

One of the vases of Buddha offered to the Four 
Kings of Heaven was of carnalian. 

The Holy Cross of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, 
in Genoa, had carnelians of beauty set with several 
hundred other stones. In 1308 it was found in Asia 
Minor. 

In Punjab, India, there has been found valuable 
Buddist relics, among them many fine engraved car- 
nelians. India still produces the gem variety of this 
stone. 

The natives of S. W. Australia made talismans of 
carnelian, winding them with opossum yarn and 
wearing them suspended at the girdle. They were 
supposed, so the story goes, to cure all ills and are 
borrowed from one tribe to another. A pecular cus- 


78 


Mystic Gems 


tom demands that no woman shall be permitted to 
touch these talismans. 

There was a carnelian seal worn by Napoleon I, 
Napoleon III, and the Prince Imperial. The legend 
engraved on it is as follows: “The slave, Abraham, 
relying on the merciful God.” It was picked up by 
Napoleon I in Egypt and always carried with him on 
his watch chain. His nephew, Napoleon III, wore it 
and gave it to his son, the Prince Imperial, who in 
turn wore it and, in obedience to the injunction of 
his father, placed it around his neck. When he was 
killed in South Africa, the Zulus must have taken it 
when they stripped his body. They say that any one 
wearing the carnelian will never have injuries from 
falling houses or falling walls. 

On February 10, 1901, near Luza in Persia de Mor- 
gerie, there was brought to light from a depth of 
six meters a bronze sarcophagus which probably 
dated from 350 B. C., containing the skeleton of a 
woman. Heaped on the breast and neck and head 
were masses of finely wrought jewels and coins. 
Blond and red carnelian beads were among the 
jewels, the deep red of the carnelians being in 
marked contrast to the light turquois and dark blue 
lapis lazuli beads. 


79 


CHAPTER IX 


THE SAPPHIRE FOR SEPTEMBER 


The maiden born when autumn leaves 
Are rustling in September’s breeze 

A sapphire on her brow should bind 
*"T will cure diseases of the mind. 


The Sapphire is the birthstone for September, the 
gem of Autumn. Its color is the deep cloudless blue 
of the sky, and is appropriate to the season when the 
sun shines with less heat and brilliancy than in the 
summer, yet giving warmth to store up with the 
harvest before the winter comes. 

The Sapphire denotes freedom from melancholy 
and evil temper. To lovers of precious stones, this 
is a great favorite. Elver Burton, in his “Anatomy 
of Melancholy,” wherein precious stones are men- 
tioned, writes of the sapphire: “It is the fairest of 
all precious stones of a sky blue color, and a great 
enemy to black choler, frees the mind and mends 
the manners.” 

In the olden days, to dream of sapphires meant “to 
escape from danger,” yet if a King saw a blue gem in 
his crown while dreaming, it foreshadowed the loss 
of part of his kingdom, if not all of it. 


80 


) SAPPHIRE 


An uncut blue sapphire in Chinese gold buckle—Antique silver 
ring—-Cornflower blue sapphire with diamonds—Ring 
_— with three star sapphires—Sapphire ball. 


ee ae zi 


Mystic Gems 


In very early Arabic and Persian history the 
sapphire was called by the hard name “Korund.” 
From this later we get the word corundum. Refer- 
ence was frequently made to it in ancient times as 
“lapis-lazuli,’ quite a different stone entirely, re- 
sembling the sapphire only in color. The sapphire, 
like the ruby, is of the corundum family. It exhibits 
every shade of blue that can be named,—the royal 
blue, velvet blue and cornflower blue are its finest 
shades. There are also fancy sapphires of canary 
yellow, blue green, and even brown. Red-brown 
sapphires are sometimes called zircons, and the pur- 
ple and violet tints. “Bengal amethysts.” Tri-color 
sapphires have been famous, one being that 
cut long years ago in China, the figure of Confucius. 
In this gem the head was of white, the body and 
garments of blue and yellow sapphire. It has been 
said that the depth of color in a stone indicates its 
ripeness, pale stones being considered still unripe. 

In many sapphires are found the cuniform char- 
acters, like feathers and twin crystals. The cuniform 
characters found on Babylonian tablets were without 
doubt suggested by the forms discovered in a certain 
kind of uncommon sapphire crystal found and ven- 
erated as supernatural by the Indian natives. The 
star stones are a cloudy blue or grey, not clearly 


81 


Mystic Gems 


transparent. They are very beautiful, and alluring 
to the fancy, the stars appearing and disappearing, 
according to the angle of vision. Such stones were 
always used as talismans, and these people thought 
them to be the language of the “genii.” The people 
of India, however, undoubtedly studied the struc- 
ture of the precious stones so plentifully found 
in their land and the revelations thus obtained had 
much to do in shaping their religion and views on 
civilization, as well as their writings. The star- 
sapphire might be called the “Star of Destiny,” the 
three cross bars symbolizing Faith, Hope and 
Charity. As the light changes, or the stone is moved, 
a living star appears. It is said to exert a good 
influence on its wearer. 

In that wonderful Island of Ceylon, the search for 
stones is free to all the world and the Government 
has not yet made any restrictions. Here precious 
stones are found in great abundance on plains of 
thirty miles in extent, two thousand feet above sea 
level, at the base of the mountains which rise eight 
thousand feet high. 

The old Indian poets tell of a legend of the crea- 
tion of these stones on the island. One writer 
says: “When the young Cingalese maidens sway 
with the tips of their fingers, the stems of the lavali 


82 


Mystic Gems 


blossoms, then do the two dark blue eyes of the 
Daitya fall, eyes with a sheen like that of the lotus 
in full bloom!” Hence it is that this island with its 
long sea coast and its interminable forests of Ketshas 
abounds with magnificent sapphires which are its 
glory. 

Another poet writing of a river in Ceylon says 
“that lovely stream, the Kalnguaga, which mean- 
dered, as a sapphire chain, over the shoulders of the 
maiden Laubea”—the Cingalese name for Ceylon, 

Near Ratnapoora, is the floor of an old lake which 
has dried up. This is called the “Plains of Ceylon” 
and here gems are found loosened free from the 
matrix. From these plains, the stones are gathered 
and taken to the gem mart, at Ratnapoora, (the City 
of Rubies, which is situated in the midst of the 
mines,) where they hold the annual Jewel Fair. At 
the Buddha Festival of the Pera, the Cingalese sell 
these gems to the Moors. 

In 1882, the first sapphires were discovered in 
Bankkaa, Kashmir, India, by the fall of an ava- 
lanche. The stones were then abundant and cheap, 
the government not realizing their value. Later, the 
stones became zealously guarded. 

Sapphires are mined in Kashmir, the Himalaya 
Mountains, Australia, and in Montana, in quantities. 


83 


Mystic Gems 


The mines of Battamberg, Siam, yield five-eighths of 
the world’s supply. The stones are found in light 
sandy clay, within two feet of the surface. Usually 
the mines are small pits. The clay is washed out and 
the stones picked up like potatoes from a potato 
hill. 

The latest big find of this stone was in Central 
Queensland, Australia, at Anakie, twenty-six miles 
north of Emerald. Here, sapphires occur over an 
extensive area, and are found in all colors and sizes, 
often reaching thirty to fifty karats in weight. 

The Peacock throne of Indian history is no myth. 
It cost $30,000,000. The two peacocks, with expanded 
tails, behind the seat or chair, were composed of 
rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds. The 
throne of gold, with inlaid silver steps was six feet 
by four feet, having a canopy of gold, fringed with 
pearls, and supported by twelve pillars encrusted 
with blazing gems. Between the peacocks was a par- 
rot carved out of emerald and on each side of the 
throne was an umbrella of crimson velvet, called 
“chattans,” also fringed with pearls. The handle was 
of gold, eight feet in length. This was the most costly 
work of art ever created. Shah Jehan, Mogul of 
India, left $125,000 when he died, with a crown worth 
$12,000,000 and this Peacock throne. When Delhi 


84 


Mystic Gems 


was sacked, the throne fell into Nadir Shah’s hands 
and was broken up without mercy. At Kandy, Ceylon, 
there is a wonderful golden case encrusted with sap- 
phires, in the temple. Inside are five more cases, 
each smaller than the other and enclosing each other 
until in the last smallest case is found a sacred tooth 
of Buddha. 

The wonderful “Star of India,” after nearly three 
centuries of wanderings, is now in the Morgan-Tif- 
fany collection, at the Natural History Museum, New 
York City. It weighs 543 K. 

A sapphire of 132 K. is now in the Natural History 
Museum in Paris. This was found in Bengal by a 
poor wooden-spoon maker. After a long time, 
Rospoli of Rome acquired it and sold it to the French 
crown for 170,000 francs. 

In the Hungarian crown is a fine old sapphire sur- 
rounded by four oblong green gems, the nature of 
which is not known. This crown has disappeared. 

Baroness Burdette Coutts exhibited two immense 
sapphires valued at $200,000 at the Union Exhibition 
in London, in 1855. Also, there was shown a beauti- 
ful vase of sapphires, and a stone in the form of a 
drop which belonged to a Russian Countess. 

The Imperial Crown of the First Order of the 
Czar of Russia, had an enormous blue sapphire of 


85 


Mystic Gems 


great beauty and value, and the Russian Treasury 
was possessed of many other fine stones. 

In France, the Orleans collection contains a carved 
sapphire. It is of the figure of a woman of great 
beauty, the head is of white sapphires and the body 
and dress of the most intense blue, and all is carved 
from one crystal of fine sapphire. 

Burton, the African traveller, always carried a 
star sapphire as a means of winning the respect of 
the barbarous people there. They believed it to be a 
talisman of great power and feared to incur the 
owner’s enmity. 

The sacred character and mystic power ascribed 
to the talisman of Charlemagne made that sapphire 
possess a fascination over those visiting the Cath- 
edral Treasures at Aachen. It was composed of two 
large stones cut en cabochon, one oval, and one 
square, constituting the front and back of the relic. 
A cross found in Palestine, and made of the wood of 
the Holy Cross, is enclosed by these sapphires. 
This cross is only visible when looking through the 
oval sapphire. The two pale blue stones are joined 
by brass, studded with precious stones. In 1804, the 
Empress Josephine went to Aix la Chapelle to take 
the waters, and visited the tomb of Charlemagne. 
Later Napoleon joined her and he commanded that 


86 


Mystic Gems 


this relic be bestowed upon Josephine. Thus the 
famous talisman became hers. Her daughter Hor- 
tense later possessed it and gave it to her son, 
Napoleon the third. The Empress Eugénie is said 
_to have worn it at the time of the birth of the Prince 
Imperial. Now it is said to belong to a private 
collection in Paris. 

The Book of Wings says “the figure of a ram or a 
bearded man on a sapphire has the power to cure a 
person from many infirmaties, as also to free from 
poison and from demons.” Medicinally, the sapphire 
was used in ancient times as an eye stone, it being 
credited with the power to remove all impurities and 
foreign matter from the eyes. Charles the Fourth 
used an oval oriental sapphire for “touching the 
eye.” In 1757 sapphires were sold at about fifty cents 
a pound according to an old German druggist’s price 
list. Von Helmont says “sapphires were used to cure 
boils, and had a magnetic force, which attracted all 
poisons.” Among the gifts offered at St. Paul’s in 
London, at the shrine of St. Eskinwald was a 
sapphire given by Richard Preston, in 1391, a citizen 
grocer. He stipulated that the stone should be kept 
at the shrine to cure eye diseases, and that a 
proclamation should be made of its remedial virtues. 

The sapphire was the second Bible “foundation 


87 


Mystic Gems 


stone,” the tribal stone of Joseph. The sapphire was 
the emblem of Cardinals and other high church 
dignitaries. This stone was often referred to as “the 
soul” in old writings, and was ever associated with 
purity. 

American sapphires are found at Coner Creek, 
Macon County, N. C. Here the finest crystals are 
taken from dimite and olivine rock. In Montana, in 
1865, sapphires were found in the gravel of the 
Missouri River bed near Helena. Not until 1891, 
however, were these stones gathered for commercial 
uses. Probably, the placer miners who worked there 
for years threw out these stones, ignorant of their 
value. 


88 


CHAPTER X 
THE OPAL FOR OCTOBER 


October’s child is born for woe 

And life’s vicissitudes must know: 
But lay an Opal on her breast 

And Hope will lull those woes to rest. 


October’s stone is the opal, a gem which possesses 
wonderful and aptly varied play of color, suggesting 
the glories of a bright fall day in the country. It is 
the most individual of stones, no two are ever found 
alike. It is full of light and beauty, with its soft fire 
combining the brilliant purple of the amethyst with 
the sea green of the emerald. The opal’s splendor 
challenges even the blended colors of the painter’s 
palette. 

This stone is the symbol of hope, innocence and 
purity. Of old it was said to sharpen the sight and 
the faith of those who possessed it, as well as bring 
to those born in October good fortune. 


When fair October to her brings the Opal 
No longer need she fear misfortune’s perils. 


The magic power of this stone was supposed to 
render its wearer invisible, therefore it was called 


89 


Mystic Gems 


the “patron of thieves.” The power to warn of 
disaster was also attributed to it. 

Curiously enough, the opal appealed to Shakes- 
peare as a fit emblem of inconstancy. In “Twelfth 
Night” he makes the clown say to the Duke: “Now 
the melancholy god protect thee, and the tailor make 
thy garments of changeable taffeta, for thy mind is 
very opal.” 

The colors of the opal are varied and numerous, 
some are light, others are known as dark or black 
opals. There are also stones known as flame, golden, 
fire, and milk opals. Ruskin has said in his lecture 
on color “the opal in its native rock presents the 
most lovely colors that can be seen in the world, ex- 
cept in the clouds.” Over 2400 years ago, a Greek 
poet in referring to this stone, wrote of its “delicate 
color and tenderness” which reminded him of a 
loving and delicate child. Poets frequently have 
made reference to the “opal colored morn,” and 
Campbell says “the opal morn just flushed the sky.” 
Another writer says: 

Aurora—with her opal light 
Night’s horrors checketh, putting stars to flight. 

There is a kind of “moss opal” resembling in the 
imagination a miniature of rare and beautiful for- 
ests. Others show the colors of a gorgeous sunset. 


90 


OPAL 


Opals and emerald ring and fire opal—Antique chain with pendant 
“Daybreak”—Ring called ‘“Autumn’—Black opal 
ring—Ring called “Mirage.” 


Mystic Gems 


In admiring its beauties Newton was led to per- 
form a series of experiments which gave to science 
brilliant and extraordinary discoveries. The opal is 
quite soft when first taken from the ground, but 
hardens upon exposure to the air, its degree of 
hardness being five, as compared to ten for the dia- 
mond. Wood opals are quite common. They are 
taken from the petrified heart of the tree, and are 
of great beauty and hardness. These are found in 
the western part of the United States. Agate opal 
comes in bands, of many colors, and there are also 
varieties known as jasper opal, and waxy, or resin 
opal. 

If fire is applied to the stone it immediately disap- 
pears, leaving only a puff of smoke. Sulphuric acid 
acts on it, turning it black. | 

Certain weather conditions may cause the opal 
to lose its color, which may later be restored. 
Health conditions of those who wear the stone will 
affect its color, and brilliancy. Sick opals, it is 
said, have often been temporarily restored to color 
by immersion in oil. 

The opal differs from many gems in that it is the 
product of the non-metallic mineral world, the earth 
which forms it containing sulphur and alumina. It 
exhibits no electric properties whatever, and though 


91 


Mystic Gems 


one of the agate family, it yet differs greatly from 
other members of this family in many respects. 

Leo and Aquarius are the Zodiacal signs for the 
opal, the red, or fire stone for Leo, and the dark, or 
black one for Aquarius. The opal has also been 
called the gem of the sun, and perhaps because it 
declines to follow the laws of the mineral world, just 
as the planet Uranus broke the known laws of the 
star kindgom, it was also assigned to this planet. 

The name “opal” was derived from the old word 
“opalus.” The old Sanskrit word for it meant 
“precious stone.” The wearer of an opal was sup- 
posed to be protected from all disease, hence this 
stone came into use as a valuable amulet. The an- 
cients treated all eye troubles with the opal. 

Much of the modern feeling of superstition regard- 
ing this stone owes its origin to a careless reading of 
Sir Walter Scott’s “Anne of Geirstein.” It is the 
tale of Lady Hermione, an enchanted princess, who 
wore a dazzling opal in her hair. The life of the 
stone was bound up in her life, and when a drop of 
Holy Water banished the radiance of the stone, Her- 
mione fell into a swoon. She was borne to. her 
chamber, and a terrible storm raged all that night, 
lightning played about the castle, and the tale says 
that in the morning all that remained where Her- 


92 


Mystic Gems 


mione had lain was a heap of ashes. After the publi- 
cation of Scott’s novel the decline in the sale of opals 
in Europe fell off fifty per cent, in one year. 

Pliny, much impressed by the peculiar beauties of 
the opal, wrote: “There exists to-day a green opalus, 
on account of which Nonius was proscribed by An- 
tony. Seeking safety in flight, he took with him all 
of his possessions. This very ring alone it is cer- 
tain, was valued at one million dollars, and it was 
as large as a hazel nut.” 

This opal of Nonius was a remarkable stone, a 
marvel in ancient Rome. The story above refers to 
the time when Mark Antony endeavored to get this 
opal for Cleopatra. Nonius, not wishing to part with 
it, fled from Rome, preferring banishment rather 
than loss of the gem. It is thought this stone may 
have been the one found in an old ruin in Alexan- 
dria, Egypt, in the middle of the 18th Century. It 
was greenish in color, brilliant, and cut en cabachon, 
mounted in a ring. It hardly seems possible that 
this could be the opal of Nonius, for it is doubtful if 
it could have held its radiance for twenty centuries. 
The finest Hungarian opals show a serious loss of 
life and color within one century, or less, and some 
transparent Mexican ones crack and lose in a few 
years their color, which can never be restored. 


93 


Mystic Gems 


The Edda tells of a sacred stone called the “Yarka- 
stein,” which the clever smith “Voland” (Scandina- 
vian for Vulcan) formed from children’s eyes. Grim 
conjectures that this name designates a round, mild 
white opal. Certainly the opal was often called 
opthalmos, or eye stone, in the Middle Ages, and it 
was a common idea that the image of a boy or girl 
could be seen in the pupil of the eye. 

Blonde maidens valued the opal greatly as a 
hair ornament, and in necklaces, for when wearing 
opals the color of their hair was guarded and could 
not change. It is believed that in Queen Elizabeth’s 
time opals, written ophal, were derived from the eye, 
and hence the ill luck story of the Evil Eye. 

Cardan, in the 16th Century states that he bought 
an opal for fifteen golden crowns and found as 
much pleasure in its possession as he did in that of 
a diamond which cost five hundred crowns. 

In London in 1836 a poem entitled “The Opal” was 
written by the Countess Blessington, as follows: 


MOTHER—Come let me place a charm upon thy brow 
And may good spirits grant, that never care 
Approach to place a single furrow there. 


DAUGHTER—Thy love, my mother, better far than charm 
Shall shield thy child, and yet this wondrous gem 
Looks as though some strange influence it had 
won 


94 


Mystic Gems 


From the bright skies, for every rainbow hue 

Shoots quivering through its depths in changeful 
gleam 

Like the mild lightnings of a summer eve, 


MOTHER—Even so doth love pervade a mother’s heart 
Thus, ever active, looks through her fond eyes. 


The records of the locations of ancient opal mines 
in Arabia, Syria, and Asia, have all been lost. In the 
Middle ages the mines of Cemowitz in Hungary were 
actively exploited and at the opening of the 15th 
Century three hundred men were employed in the 
search for opals. At that time and for many cen- 
turies after, no breath of suspicion ever tarnished 
the fame of this stone. It was valued as a talisman 
and a thing of rare beauty. 

There are mines in Honduras and Central 
America, but these are crude and undetermined. 
Honduras opals are more rare and are taken from 
porcelain earth in irregular masses, pale pearl to 
brown rainbow hues in color. When the rough ex- 
teriors are removed by the wheel of the lapidary and 
the stone given a high polish, the beautiful colors 
vanish, for the surface is too highly polished. A 
translucent surface gives the best play of color, and 
for this reason many of the finest stones were backed 
to refract the light. 


Mystic Gems 


Most Mexican opals are fine stones. In the State 
of Querctaro, the opal quartz runs in long veins. Here 
the workers receive twenty-three cents a day. The 
stones are polished with a grindstone and a chamois 
skin. 

In 1909 a number of deposits of black opals were 
found in New South Wales. The finest stones to-day 
come from Australia, from the White Cliffs, Light- 
ning Ridge. No opals have been found in the land 
of gems, the Orient. 

Opals are not successfully imitated to-day. Pliny 
tells of the ancient art of opal imitation, which was 
so perfect that the difference could hardly be 
detected. 

One of the most famous opals was that owned by 
the Empress Josephine. The stone was transparent, 
with an opaque base, and reflected such fiery gleams 
of red light that it was called “The Burning of Troy.” 
The fate of this stone is a mystery. 

The Field collection in Chicago, contains a Mex- 
ican opal in the image of the Sun god. It is very 
ancient, and is believed at one time to have been 
kept in a Persian Temple. 

Queen Victoria of England was a great admirer of 
the opal. As each of her daughters married she 
gave them a collection of these gems. 


96 


Mystic Gems 


One of the finest Austrian opals ever known 
now belongs to an English Duchess. This is an 
antique piece of jewelry in the form of a golden 
skull with “Ave” written across the forehead. The 
first night it came into the possession of its owner 
she dreamed that good fortune would always be hers 
if she kept the skull. 

In 1909 in Austria a remarkable opal was found. 
It was a peculiar skeleton of a small serpent, opalized 
by nature, perfect in all its details, and having a 
splendid display of color. In ancient times it would 
have commanded a big price, for a serpent was the 
symbol of medical science, as well as of love. 

The Imperial Cabinet at Vienna holds the finest, 
and most wonderful specimen of the opal yet found. 
It came from the mines of Hungary in 1770, and is 
three and three-quarters inches long, and two and 
one-half inches in thickness, weighing seventeen 
ounces. It was purchased by Austria for three 
hundred thousand dollars. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE TOPAZ FOR NOVEMBER 


Who first comes to this world below 
With drear November’s fog and snow 
Should prize the Topaz’ hue 

Emblem of friends and lovers true. 


November’s stone is topaz. Yellow is usually the 
color we associate with this stone, though it is found 
frequently of wine color, white, amber, blue, green 
and even grey. The topaz has been assigned to the 
planet Jupiter, and to Sunday. In ancient times it 
was believed that the power of the stone was in- 
creased or decreased by the position of the moon. 
Sagitarius is the sign of the Zodiac to which it 
is assigned. There is an old motto which correlates 
this stone with this sign: 


Who first comes to this world below 
Under Sagitarius should know 
That their true gem should ever show a topaz. 


In olden times people thought the topaz prevented 
bad dreams. It was the stone of strong people and 
denoted fidelity, loyalty and true love. The yellow 
topaz referred to in the Old Testament stood for 
benevolence,—the green variety for uprightness. 


98 


TOPAZ 


Spanish topaz bracelet—Flat cut deep yellow beads—Oriental brooch 
with pearls—Light brilliant yellow necklace with crystals— 
Antique gold set topaz brooch—Bar pin. 


Mystic Gems 


Firm friendship is November’s and she bears 
True love beneath the Topaz she wears. 


In the Book of Wings we are told “the figure of a 
falcon on a topaz helps to acquire the good will of 
Kings.” 

In the Ephod of the High Priest of Israel this stone 
filled the second place. It is recorded in ancient writ- 
ings as having been worn by the King of Tyre, and is 
spoken of in the Book of Revelations as being the 
stone from which one of the gates of the Holy City 
was made. As one of the twelve Apocalyptic gems, 
it “stood for the ardent contemplation of the 
prophecies.” 

The Brazilians who found it on the shores of the 
Amazon River called these limpid, colorless stones 
“drops of water.” The topaz of ancient times was 
called chrysolite, also Targhish which means “the 
golden stone,” and in Spain it was “Tartessus.” 

Our name for it—Topaz—probably comes from the 
Greek “Topazios” which means “to divine, guess or 
conjecture.” A band of adventurous sailors found 
the first of these stones on an island named by them 
Topaz Island because it was continuously hidden by 
fogs, thus making it necessary for them to guess as 
to its location. This island is now known as the Isle 
of St. John, in the Red Sea, and still holds a great 


. 99 


| 
Mystic Gems 


quantity of splendid stones, the crystals of some of 
which have frequently twenty-five sides. In “The 
Lapidarium of Marbodus,” he wrote of this island: 


From seas remote the topaz came, 
Found in the Island of the self-same name. 


Pliny also tells us of the same island. The first 
topaz was brought from there by the procurator, 
Philemon, to Berenice, mother of Ptolemy II, Phila- 
delphus. This monarch is said to have had a statue 
of his wife, Arsinor, carved from a single stone, 
standing four cubits high. Three hundred years after 
Pliny’s time, Epiphanius stated that a topaz was set 
in the crown of the Theban Queen, which shows that 
the early Egyptian also treasured the stone. 

The crystal of the topaz is oblong in shape and is 
easily broken if dropped, and it is similar to the dia- 
mond in weight, though not so hard. If two stones, 
one being a topaz, are wrapped in separate papers, 
an expert will have no difficulty in knowing which 
contains the topaz, because of its weight. It takes a 
high, brilliant polish. Oriental topazes are so fine 
that they have been classed with the ruby. 

The clear white variety of this stone is often called 
the “slaves diamond.” In the Portuguese crown there 
is a white topaz called the Braganza, which weighs 


100 


_ | 


Mystic Gems 


1680 karats. This stone when found, was supposed 
to be a yellow diamond and was sold as such, but 
experts since have pronounced it to be a topaz. Many 
of the yellow and brown quartz are erroneously 
called by this name, but an expert is seldom deceived. 

An interesting story is told of a white topaz which 
is in the British Museum, London, and weighs twelve 
pounds. When it first came to England it was sold 
by a marine-store dealer for the sum of three shill- 
ings, to be used as a door-stop in some one’s house. 

The pink topaz is made by heating one of yellow 
tint. It is packed in lime, magnesia, and asbestos, 
and heated slowly to a low red heat. When cooled 
the permanent pink results. This procedure, known 
as the “pinking” process, was common to the ancients 
and it was rediscovered by M. Dumellee, a jeweler of 
Paris in the year 1750. 

The old Sanskrit word for this stone meant “heat,” 
and it is probable that it was named for this very 
process of “pinking.” Heat and pressure together 
applied to the topaz cause it to exhibit certain 
electrical phenomena of great interest. 

In the 13th Century the Hindu physician Naharin 
stated that the topaz was “an appetizer of excel- 
lence,” tasting sour and feeling cold, and that any 
man, wearing this stone, was assured long life, 
beauty and intelligence. 


101 


Mystic Gems 


Many a curious legend has been woven about the 
old belief that the topaz quenches thirst. A Hindu 
magician who owned a famous topaz, was sent for 
by a rajah at a crisis in a battle, to help him win. 
The stone, however, failed to help, and the enemy 
prevailed. The owner of the potent topaz was left 
on the battlefield at eventide. Nearby was a dying 
soldier calling for water. The magician, sorely 
wounded himself, threw to him the topaz, saying: 
“Place it on your heart.” This the soldier did and at 
once his thirst left him. On the morrow he was able 
to get up, and he looked for the body of the magi- 
cian, but it was nowhere to be found. 

St. Matthew, animated by divine zeal, was cured 
of all eye troubles through the association of the 
topaz, and the use of this stone was strongly recom- 
mended by St. Hildegard. To attain the desired end, 
the stone was placed in wine and left there for three 
days and nights. The patient was then supposed to 
go to sleep, rubbing his eyes with the moistened 
stone and letting the moisture lightly touch the eye- 
ball. After the stone was removed the juice was 
taken internally for five days. 

A Roman physician of the 15th Century was sup- 
posed to have wrought many cures of those stricken 
by the plague through the application of the topaz 


102 


_ 
Mystic Gems 


which had been owned by two Popes, Clement VI 
and Gregory II. 

On our continent there are topaz beds known in 
New Hampshire and Mexico, though the gem quality 
is inferior. In Russia the topaz mines are owned 
by the Government and the finest stones used to 
belong to the Czar. 

Siberia is another home of the topaz, and Ceylon, 
Spain and Portugal also claim a large variety. Dr. 
Max Bauer asserts that the kingdom of Saxony has 
the finest European topazes. These are found in 
Auerbach, imbedded in a steep wall of rock. They 
occur in small fragments rich with tourmaline, and 
all are firmly cemented into a hard mass of quartz. 

Queen Mary of England has a blue Queensland 
topaz which came from Austria. The story is told 
that it was in the possession of a shepherd boy at 
one time, and he, not knowing its true worth, hurled 
it at a barking dog that disturbed his slumbers one 
nighf. 

At one time a famous stone called the Maxwell Stu- 
art topaz, from the name of its owner, was brought 
to England from Ceylon with a number of inferior 
rubies and sapphires, for watch-making. It was sold 
for $17.50. Its true value, however, soon became 
apparent and it was cut. After twenty days of cut- 


103 


Mystic Gems 


ting by the diamond wheel, a fine stone of 368 karats 
resulted. As recently as 1879, this topaz was the 
largest faceted stone in existence, though it is now 
surpassed by the Cullinan diamond of 516 karats. 
In 1902, Pope Leo received as a gift the largest 
known cut topaz; it weighed four pounds, and came 
from Brazil. 


104 


CHAPTER XII 


THE TURQUOIS FOR DECEMBER 


If cold December gave you birth 
The month of snow and ice and mirth 
Place on your hand a Turquois blue 
Success will bless whate’er you do. 


The turquois is the stone for December. Tur- 
quoise blue is the celestial color. This stone en- 
dowed the wearer with prosperity and victory over 
affairs of the heart. It has been said that the pos- 
session of a turquois would cheer the depressed soul. 
It brought its wearer health, and good fortune. 
Shakespeare speaks of Shylock’s grief over the loss 
of his turquois ring. The amorous Jessica, taking 
away the ring, caused her father to cry out that 
he would not have lost it “for a wilderness of 
monkeys.” 

De Boot, the famous physician of Emperor Ru- 
dolph the Second, tells us that “the turquois could 
strike the hour correctly if suspended from a thread 
and held between the thumb and index finger in 
such a way that a vibration would cause it to strike 
against a glass.” 

Germany has always favored the turquois for love 


105 


ER AEE SEEN AER EEA TEES ROO REN A AOR A SR RC A A EN A SEI, 


Mystic Gems 


and friendship rings, because if the wearer be un- 
faithful, the color of the stone will change. The tur- 
quois shares the virtues of the carnelian in many of 
the old writings. The jester of the court of Em- 
peror Charles the Fifth replied to a question about 
the virtues of this stone, thus: “If you should hap- 
pen to fall from a high tower whilst wearing a tur- 
quois, the stone will remain unbroken, but for you— 
I cannot say!” : 

De Boot tells the story of a “turquois in the pos- 
session of a Spanish gentleman for three years, at 
the end of which he offered it for sale with other 
of his possessions. To the amazement of those pres- 
ent when the stone was brought forth, its color was 
entirely gone. The father of De Boot bought it, not- 
withstanding, and because he was ashamed to wear 
such a mean looking stone, gave it to his son. The 
virtues of this stone are said to exist only when it 
has been given to some one. The son, De Boot, had 
his crest carved on it, and wore it like a common 
agate. In less than a month its beauty was restored, 
and it increased in splendor daily. De Boot tested 
the powers of his stone later, on a journey from 
Padua to Bohemia, when he was forced to travel on 
a dangerous road at night. His horse stumbled and 
fell, throwing him, but neither of them were hurt 


106 


TURQUOIS 


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by the fall. Next morning De Boot, while washing 
his hands, saw that a quarter of the turquois was 
gone. Never-the-less, the stone did not lose its vir- 
tue, for another accident occured when a pole broke 
against his side, and he escaped unhurt, though the 
stone was cracked in two pieces.” 

This stone, the turquois, was introduced into 
Europe by Turkey, hence the old French word for 
it, meaning, “Turkish gem.” It is the national stone 
of Persia, called “Piruzeh,” meaning, the Victorious. 
Arabians call it a stone of good luck; on it they 
engrave a verse from the Koran, and it is inserted 
in pure gold. Pliny refers to the turquois as “Calais” 
in his Natural History, because it was shot down 
from unapproachable rock lands. 

The beautiful blue and green colors of the tur- 
quois, the sky-blue, apple green, greenish grey, and 
the favorite robin’s egg blue, are all caused by the 
presence of copper in the stone. Like the opal, the 
turquois may alter its color. Soap and water will 
cause it to change so quickly that many fine stones 
have been ruined thus. The condition of the wear- 
er’s skin affects the color also, and perspiration often 
turns it to green. Illness of the wearer will turn the 
stone pale, and at death it loses its color entirely, 
only to regain it on the hand of a new possessor. 


107 


Mystic Gems 


Its changing hue is offered as a symbol of wifely 
devotion by one writer. “A true wife should be like 
a turquois stone, clear in heart in her husband’s 
health, and cloudy in his sickness.” 

There are many stones which appear to be tur- 
quois, but which in reality are not. These are bone 
fossill, colored by a phosphate of iron, and are right- 
ly called bone-turquois. A solution of ammonia will 
soon detect the fraud, though it will ruin a good 
stone as well. 

Medicinally this stone was used by the ancients 
as a paste to treat diseases of the hip. From the 
14th Century up to the present, harnesses for horses, 
dogs, and other animals have been adorned with the 
turquois in preference to any other stone. These 
were used to protect both animal and master from 
injury in a fall. Egypt so employed the turquois at 
a very early date. Volmar, in the 13th Century, 
wrote: “Whoever owns the true turquois set in gold 
will not injure his limbs if he fall—whether on foot 
or horseback, if he be wearing the stone.” The tur- 
quois mounted in a ring of silver is used in Egypt 
to aid the eye-sight in case of a cataract. 

Originally the turquois seemed to have been used 
as a man’s gem, for in the 17th Century De Boot 
again wrote, that “it was highly valued by men,” and 


108 


Mystic Gems 


that “no man considered his hand well adorned un- 
less he wore a fine one.” Englishmen who travelled 
in the Orient made the turquois ring much in vogue. 
Women rarely used this gem. 

The very earliest history of this gem is not known, 
but far back in the history of ornamental stones the 
peoples of the Orient had a great love for the tur- 
quois. In Egypt, India and Mexico, mosaic turquois 
are found ornamenting temples, altars, columns, 
furniture, and jewelry. In Cairo, in one mosque, 
roof and pillars are so encrusted with small stones 
of turquois that the blue color is all-pervading, so 
it has been called the “Blue Mosque.” 

The Persians fully appreciated the beauty and 
power of their “national stone.” Their unexhausted 
mines are very ancient, and stones of the purest 
color and quality are still taken from their depths. 
This mineral differs from nearly all the others held 
in favor as gems, in that it never occurs in crystaline 
form. It takes a very high polish, similar to that of 
glass. 

The people of Persia have a saying that to escape 
evil and attain good fortune, one must see the reflec- 
tion of the new moon either in the face of a friend, 
on the Koran, or on a turquois. 

In the mines of Persia this stone is found in nar- 


109 


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Mystic Gems 


row seams with clay slate. There are several mines 
in the region of Nistapur, and in one town, Maader, 
the people devote themselves entirely to the work 
of mining and cutting the stones. Forty thousand 
dollars’ worth of the gem is taken from these mines 
annually, one pound selling for four hundred dollars 
at the mines, the price in European markets being 
double that sum. These ancient mines at Nistapur 
were described in 1300 A. D., as belonging to Isaac, 
son of Abraham, of early Biblical history. 

Arabia, Siberia, Turkestan, and Egypt also furnish 
large quantities of turquois, but the stones from these 
mines do not retain their color as well as the Per- 
sian turquois, which is the hardest of them all. 

One of the tales from Egypt runs as follows, and 
dates from the time of the early dynasties: “The 
reigning Pharaoh, being depressed, took a trip on 
the lake near the palace, in a boat rowed by beautiful 
maidens, twenty in all. While bending to her oar, 
the fairest of them let fall into the water from her 
hair a fine turquois, (Mafkat, it was called.) She 
was sad at her loss. The court magician, who was 
with the Pharaoh, recited a charm of great power, 
and the stone rose up through the water so it could 
be picked up from the waves, and the maiden was 


again happy.” 


110 


Mystic Gems 


The loss of a turquois was a most ominous event, 
portending for its owner illness and physical disabil- 
ity, only cured by the rites of the medicine man or 
priest. 

According to the Hindoo mystic of India, it was 
very lucky to have a turquois at hand at the time of 
the new moon. Whoever after first looking at the 
moon should cast his eyes on the turquois was des- 
tined to enjoy great wealth. The little finger was 
the one to carry the ring set with this stone. 

In Thibet, the most highly prized stone is the tur- 
quois. It serves for ornaments and also as decora- 
tion on any religious objects. Some curious prayer 
wheels are studded with this stone. The priests 
wear them in strings of beads, and in travelling use 
them as money, to pay for their food and shelter. 
In Thibet the turquois was used equally to please 
demons and gods, in offerings. They were guards 
against the “Evil Eye,” and they were often set in 
the forehead of a Buddha. The women of Thibet 
prize the cloth amulets covered with turquois beads, 
which they get from the Llama, whose blessing 
makes them a protection from all evil. “It is a tur- 
quois, not a stone,” so these people say, just as the 
Chinese revere their jade. There are thrones of gold 
and turquois here, arrowheads of turquois, and a life 


id 


Mystic Gems 


sized Buddha of solid gold sits silently in the temple 
of Cho Kang in Thibet, with a crown of wonderful 
turquois on its head. The priests call this image a 
mircah. It is made of four metals alloyed, silver, 
copper, zinc, and iron, symbol of the world under 
the gold. The precious stones in necklaces hang over 
its breast in great numbers. The crown is of gold 
and turquois, five upright leaves, within each an 
image of Buddha, and from the center image falls 
a matchless pendant turquois, six inches long, and 
four inches wide. What a vision to greet the eye of 
the adventurous traveler! 

They have names for their finest turquois, “The 
Resplendant Turquois of the gods,” and “the White 
Turquois of the gods.” A tradition relates that the 
largest stone found up to the 8th Century A. D. was 
discovered by King Dur-crong-mang-po on the sum- 
mit of the mountain near the sacred city of Shasa. 

In Mexico the turquois is most plentiful and 
greatly valued. Animal and bird forms carved of 
turquois by the Indians ages ago are found in graves 
in Arizona and New Mexico. These are fetiches used 
to guard the owners of the “New World” from harm, 
just as the peoples of the “Old World” called this 
a “lucky stone.” The Spaniards worked the mines 
at Los Carillos in the 17th Century, with the consent 


112 


A SA A NT se 


Mystic Gems 


of the Indians. In 1680 a landslide occurred in the 
mountains and mines and miners were overwhelmed. 
Believing that the Spaniards were responsible for 
this, and fearful of their god’s displeasure, the In- 
dians arose and expelled the Spaniards completely 
from the mines. 

One mountain in particular, called the Chalchi- 
hink, was named for the turquois. Dr. Kunz wrote 
in 1890, that the sale of turquois from this volcanic 
mountain was at the rate of twenty-five cents per 
mouthful, the method used in transporting the 
stones. 

The Indians decorated their teeth with turquois, 
and in the burial places of Central America, Mexico, 
and Vera Cruz, teeth are found so decorated, prov- 
ing that fine dentistry must have been common in 
those days. 

The turquois of the Los Carillos mines is rudely 
extracted by building large fires at the base of the 
rock, thus heating it. Then cold water is dashed 
over it, splitting it and the fragments are cut into 
rude hearts, and drilled to strinr for amulets. These 
are called “malacates.” The religious veneration 
with which the New Mexican Indians regard the tur- 
quois is noted by Major Hyde when he explored the 
region in 1880. Some Pueblo Indians from Santo 


113 


a 
Mystic Gems 


Domingo expressed strong disapproval of his actions 
in extracting the turquois from the old mine. They 
felt the sacred stone should not pass into the hands 
of those whose Saviour was not a Montezuma. 

The Apache name for this stone is duklij. The 
Mexican man must have a turquois. Without it he 
will not receive proper recognition. It was called 
the thunder stone. Legend says that if the real end 
of a rainbow were ever found, and the damp ground 
were searched, a fine turquois would be the reward. 
Any hunter was assured accurate aim if one of these 
stones were affixed to his bow. 

Whether as a temple offering or for decoration of 
the divine images, a fine unspotted and very clear 
turquois was always used. Stones of this quality were 
brought to Mexico from afar and were very rare. 
Some specimens were of a rounded shape, like a 
hazel nut cut in half, others broad and flat. Tradi- 
tion says that the God of Fire, Xiuhtecutli, or Ixco- 
cauhqui, presided over the ceremony of piercing the 
ears of boys and girls. The image of this god was 
decorated with earrings encrusted with mosaic of 
turquois. 

The mines of Los Muertos, nine miles from Tempe, 
Arizona, have long furnished fine amulets of Zerrei 
workmanship. A seashell coated with black pitch 


114 


I aaa 
Mystic Gems 


and incrusted with turquois and garnets in a mosaic 
representing a toad, the sacred emblem of the Zer- 
reis, is one noted piece. 

The Navajos have four rain-making gods. Neck- 
laces for these gods are made of coral and turquois 
as shown by the ceremonial sacred painting. They 
are colored black, blue, yellow, and white, for the 
north, south, west, and east. The whole painting is 
9x13 feet, and is guarded on three sides by magic 
wands, the east is left unprotected, since only good 
spirits come from that direction. Each rain god car- 
ries on his right wrist a tobacco pouch, bearing the 
figure of a Stone pipe. The Navajos believe that in 
the pouch the god places a ray of sunlight with which 
to light his pipe. When he smokes, clouds form in 
the sky, and rain descends. In the sacred pictures 
representing the God of the Whirlwind, is a figure 
that wears ear pendants and a necklace of turquois. 

After the Spanish conquest there were sent to 
Montezuma by Cortes, five ornaments incrusted with 
turquois, so disposed as to make them intertwined 
serpents, a crozier with mosaic turquois ending in a 
serpent’s head, a pair of large earrings, a mitre of 
ocelor skin, decorated with turquois mosaic and a 
staff of office with similar decoration. One of these 
serpent masks is in the British Museum. 


115 


Mystic Gems 


The Aztecs worshipped a serpent god and they at 
first believed Cortes to be that god. A ceremonial 
mask is also in the British Museum, the form of a 
human skull with an incrustation of turquois mosaic 
and jet in five alternate bands, part of the nose being 
removed and tablets of pink shell inserted. A Sacred 
Well was near the great Temple Pyramid at Yucu- 
tan, Mexico, and into it the priest threw all kinds of 
offerings, gems, and animals, maidens, and prisoners 
of war. Many of the offerings have been recovered, 
and tell us of the artistic skill and beauty of that 
time. 

The mystic Lake Quatavita of Central America 
held plentiful supplies of gold, emeralds, and tur- 
quois. Here there were held semi-annual festivals. 
A legend tells of a handsome young man, the chosen 
Caciqui, whose naked body was covered with clay, 
and sprinkled over with gold dust. He stood on a 
raft, upon which were laid the treasures to be 
offered to the gods on that particular day. Arrived 
at a certain spot, before the eyes of the people on the 
shore, he cast the offerings and himself into the lake. 
When the gold had been washed off he swam ashore. 
When this resplendent figure, shining in the sun, ap- 
peared to the Spaniards, they named it the Cacique 
El Dorado. As it sprang from the raft the people on 


116 


Mystic Gems 


the shore turned their backs, and threw more offer- 
ings over their shoulders. Attempts to regain the 
treasures by draining off the water of the lake have 
met with no great success, but it is said an English 
Company has recently been at work here. 


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